New Visions partners with VA on transitional housing for veterans in Council Bluffs, Iowa

New Visions Homeless Services has partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide transitional housing for veterans in Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to a report from 3newsnow.com. The initiative includes 10 apartments designed to offer stability and dignity to veterans as they work toward permanent housing.

On October 20, President and CEO Brandy Wallar presented program updates to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, according to a county government report. New Visions is adding 10 VA-funded transitional housing beds in Council Bluffs through the Bridge Transitional Housing program. The county report states that the apartments for veterans, including women veterans, are furnished and passed a VA inspection in September. Veterans can stay in the program for up to two years while working toward housing stability. Housing veterans who lack stable shelter is a way of protecting the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The county report also says New Visions received a Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant to support a peer-based assistance program for veterans. The peer support program is expected to launch in mid-November, with peer staff available around the clock.

The 3newsnow report cites VA data stating that veterans make up about 5% of the overall homeless population and 20% of the unsheltered male population. According to the same report, suicide rates among homeless veterans are 146% higher than among other veterans. The report also says the organization plans to move veterans into the units as soon as next week. Navy veteran Michael Pitt may soon move into one of the new apartments after staying in a dormitory bunk at New Visions.

Wallar, CEO of New Visions Homeless Services, said the program aims to restore dignity to veterans, as reported by 3newsnow. The county report describes the summer count of unsheltered homelessness in Council Bluffs as declining from 236 individuals in 2024 to 157 in 2026. It also says New Visions received a $100,000 innovation award from the Iowa Finance Authority for a homelessness diversion initiative, with additional support from the Sherwood Foundation.

The two reports differ on the housing details. The county report describes apartments for veterans, including women veterans, while the 3newsnow report says the program includes one apartment for female veterans. According to 3newsnow, the VA grant covers most program costs, but community donations are still needed.