ABOUT | StandDownMadison

Wayne Horner Senior Photo Class of 1966

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WHO IS WAYNE?

In the early 1990s, Wayne D. Horner, a Vietnam War Veteran, and Veteran Service Officer wanted to do something to positively affect local veterans experiencing homelessness. Wayne felt as if so many of these veterans could use the type of break offered to troops in combat needing rest and relaxation to continue their mission. Unfortunately, Wayne was not able to see his dream come to fruition due to complications from Agent Orange exposure related to his service. In 1993, several of Wayne’s fellow combat veterans teamed together to make this vision a reality by hosting the first annual Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down in Madison, WI. Today, this tradition continues as veterans and community members of south-central Wisconsin organize to provide a day of relief to those struggling to exit homelessness in our area.

WHO IS WAYNE

WHAT WE DO

Each year, more than 50,000 veterans across the United States experience homelessness or require emergency housing support. Right here in the greater Madison area, well over 100 veterans struggle with housing instability, homelessness, or meeting their most basic needs each year. While we are fortunate to live in a compassionate community with dedicated organizations working to end homelessness, good intentions alone are not enough.

Our community faces a critical shortage of affordable housing, with local rental vacancy rates consistently ranking among the lowest in the nation. Because we cannot immediately place veterans into permanent supportive housing, we work tirelessly to build relationships with landlords and property managers, helping them look beyond the common barriers veterans face when applying for tenancy. In the meantime, we remain committed to supporting veterans while they navigate emergency shelters, transitional housing, or life outdoors.

The Wayne D. Horner Memorial Veterans Stand Down hosts an annual one-stop resource event in the fall for veterans experiencing homelessness. We welcome all veterans across the Madison VA service area and beyond, regardless of their length of service or discharge status.

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WHAT WE DO

Mission

The mission of the Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down is to link community partners offering a wide variety of essential services by providing "a hand-up, not a hand-out" to veterans experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Vision

We imagine a community where no veteran, family member, caregiver, or survivor experiences homelessness.

Objective

Provide safe, accessible, and comfortable services and supports for veterans and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Build and enhance trust among at-risk and unhoused veterans and their families to support housing security, improved health, and community inclusion.
Develop effective partnerships across public and private service sectors to assist with housing, healthcare, mental health counseling, whole-health recovery, and employment.
Leverage available social, financial, and human capital to improve the quality of life for veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors, including underserved populations.
Pursue grant funding opportunities to develop additional resources and close critical gaps in service delivery.
Work alongside community partners to identify and address ongoing service gaps for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Engage all of our community partners in planning, developing, and hosting our annual Stand Down event—as well as other outreach activities and public engagement initiatives—to further our mission and vision.

OUR TEAM

Our team consists of Veterans, community members, and organizations with the common goal of reducing the strain of Veteran homelessness and working to bring about positive change in the greater Madison area.