One Military Wife Is Changing the Lives of Homeless Veterans—One RV at a Time

Across the country, thousands of veterans who once wore the uniform now face a painful reality: homelessness. Some sleep in their cars. Others move from couch to couch. Too many are forgotten.

But in North Idaho, one military wife decided that “forgotten” was no longer acceptable.

A Mission Born from Service

Amanda Yount is more than a nonprofit founder—she’s a military spouse, the daughter and sister of Army veterans, and the wife of a U.S. Marine. Service runs through her family, and so does compassion.

After years of working in health care and veteran-related services, Amanda saw a troubling pattern: veterans who served honorably were slipping through the cracks of traditional housing systems. Long waitlists, limited resources, and rigid qualifications left many with nowhere to go.

Instead of waiting for someone else to fix the problem, she took action.

Turning RVs Into Homes

Amanda founded North Idaho Veterans Village, a nonprofit with a simple but powerful idea: Use donated RVs and travel trailers to house homeless veterans immediately.

Through the organization, donated RVs are repaired, refurbished, and given directly to veterans at no cost. The veterans only pay for basic utilities such as propane and trash service—removing the largest barrier to stability: housing itself.

This approach doesn’t just provide shelter. It restores dignity.

A Life Changed Overnight

One of the first veterans helped was a 75-year-old Vietnam War Navy veteran who had been living in his car, bouncing between hotels and temporary situations. Like many older veterans, fixed income and rising housing costs left him with few options.

Today, he has a place to call his own.

A bed. A door that locks. Safety. Stability.

And perhaps most importantly—hope.

Navigating Challenges with Determination

Amanda and her husband originally planned to build a dedicated RV village on purchased land. However, local zoning regulations forced them to pivot. Rather than giving up, they adapted—staging and repairing RVs on their property and placing veterans in RV parks while continuing to pursue long-term solutions.

It’s a reminder that real service often requires flexibility, perseverance, and grit.

More Than Housing—It’s Honor

This mission isn’t just about RVs. It’s about honoring those who served when it mattered most.

Veterans who receive help through North Idaho Veterans Village must provide proof of service and undergo a background check, ensuring accountability while preserving dignity. It’s a hand up—not a handout.

How You Can Help

Efforts like this survive through community support. Whether through RV donations, financial contributions, or simply sharing the story, awareness matters.

Because sometimes the difference between homelessness and hope is one person willing to say, “I’ll do something.”

And one military wife did.