News & Stories
Supporting Hope, Housing, and Healing for Veterans
When armed services veterans are discharged and return home, they can bring a lot back with them: an incredible work ethic, leadership skills, and a sense they’ve spent their time in service to their country. Some come back with advanced technological training or other professional skills that help them become successful entrepreneurs and community leaders.
However, they can also return to civilian life in a state of physical, emotional, and financial upheaval, including experiencing homelessness. In fact, the name of a local veteran support nonprofit, 22 2 None, is based on a chilling statistic: the approximate number of veteran suicides that occur each day.
Their name is a rallying cry to reduce that statistic to zero, and 22 2 None’s board is working to provide local veterans with camaraderie and support navigating Veterans Affairs benefits, along with other services.
“We’re a veteran suicide and mental health awareness nonprofit helping vets connect with resources here in Northern Michigan,” said Ray McDaniel, 22 2 None’s Executive Director. “We provide anything from recreational programs and friendship to material assistance.
Ray, a Marine Corps veteran, started as the organization’s Board Secretary in 2016, when 22 2 None was founded. The crew has its home in the old South Boardman Elementary School, offering in-house programs like Monday night dinners that attract 20 to 30 veterans weekly, along with regular hunting and fishing trips. Board members are all volunteers, so funds go directly towards veterans programs.
The nonprofit received their first grant from us in 2025 through our Youth Endowment to support transitional housing for local veterans. A cohort of high school students from our Antrim County Youth Advisory Council (YAC) voted to fund 22 2 None.
“Their mission statement and presentation were really powerful,” said Corbin Bogard, an Elk Rapids High School junior and YAC member. “The housing project was already underway, and they just needed to help them get over the edge.”
Before beginning their housing project in 2025, 22 2 None was already providing crucial financial assistance to help veterans maintain their quality of life. Ray described helping a veteran whose furnace went out after she’d used her savings to repair her water heater. The nonprofit replaced the furnace, free of charge.
“We’ve paid lots of bills for vets,” said Ray. “And we don’t charge, since the point is to take the burden off them.”
The group branched out into housing support because other temporary options only provide housing for veterans’ partners if they’re married. Rules on marital status can split apart families when veterans require emergency housing. 22 2 None volunteers are in the process of renovating a duplex to provide veterans with free, emergency housing that will support all displaced household members.
The Youth Endowment grant award will go towards retaining a lawyer to provide guidance on protecting the organization’s and tenants’ rights during emergency housing. Corbin remembers wanting to support 22 2 None after hearing about the difficulties faced by unhoused veterans.
“[Ray] shared a story about how only married partners can stay in veteran housing,” Bogard said. “It was heartbreaking to hear about families getting split up.”
Ray was happy to see 22 2 None chosen for funding out of so many worthy organizations, and to see youth involved in the decision-making process.
“I am so proud of them for being involved in the community,” Ray shared. “These kids are invested in what’s going on, and it gives me hope for the future.”
Writer: Jennifer DeMoss