NORTH IDAHO – A 2025 Point in Time Count showed nearly 2,700 people experiencing homelessness across Idaho in January of last year, with 6% being veterans.
Amanda and Joshua Yount, a local couple, are working to reduce these numbers with community support through nonprofit North Idaho Veterans Village. The nonprofit provides housing for homeless veterans in RVs donated by locals.
With Amanda at the helm, North Idaho Veterans Village is a passion project for the Younts. Amanda came from a family with three generations of military service and previously worked at Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls. Joshua is a Marine veteran.
The couple met with NonStop Local at Veterans Memorial Park in Coeur d’Alene to speak about the mission of North Idaho Veterans Village.
“We just looked at each other one day and said, we have to do better,” Amanda Yount shared.
Joshua Yount added, “This is a great way for us to keep moving forward with being able to help everyone.”
The placement involves reviewing each veteran’s DD 2-14 (a form confirming their service history) as well as performing a background check. Once complete, Amanda says placement in an RV takes anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks.
Currently, North Idaho Veterans Village is housing five veterans and surviving spouses. Many graduates of the program donate their RV back to the nonprofit for future use, but residents can stay until they are ready to move on.
“They come to us with nothing. They come to us with no hope, no clothes, no furniture, and we put them in an RV,” said Amanda Yount. “Some are prettier than others, but they all have working heat, working air, working fridge, the necessities.”
The Younts have been doing these placements for a year and are now aiming to establish their own RV park to expand their mission. A true family affair, Joshua’s mom, Mindy Yount, is the realtor is helping them search for the right property.
To learn more about supporting North Idaho Veterans Village, visit their website at northidahoveteransvillage.org.
