MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - When Heather Gautsch finished her 10-year stint in the military, she wasn’t sure where to go.

“I did it the hard way,” Gautsch said.

Like many other veterans, once she returned home, found civilian life more difficult than she remembered.

“But I’m here now able to give back and help people who were in that position,” she said.

According to a 2024 U.S. Department of Urban Housing and Development (HUD) report, around 350 veterans in Wisconsin are facing homelessness at any given time.

Stand Down Madison is a local nonprofit dedicated to helping any veteran experiencing homelessness. On Saturday, they held their annual one-stop-shop research fair.

They partner with more than 60 community partners to offer everything from free clothes and food, to registration for

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