Walking Down Ranch offers 90-day transitional housing for veterans, asks Lakeside community for furniture and sponsorships

Pinetop Lakeside — Walking Down Ranch, a locally funded nonprofit that provides short-term transitional housing for veterans, described its services, funding model and urgent donation needs in an interview on the town's Talk of the Town podcast.

"We are a 90 day program," said Victoria, vice president of Walking Down Ranch, describing the organization's model of short-term residency paired with individualized plans and community-service requirements designed to help veterans move into permanent housing. Victoria said the program focuses on addressing the specific causes of each veteran's homelessness rather than using a uniform approach.

Paul, the organization's veteran liaison, said his role includes reviewing applications before acceptance, tracking residents' progress on program goals and connecting them to resources. "We will stock the cabin with furniture, plates and stuff like that," Paul said, adding that residents who complete the program may take furniture with them when they move into new housing and the cabin is then restocked for the next incoming veteran.

Walking Down Ranch began in 2014, the guests said, and later moved to the Historic Rainbow Lodge after a property purchase. Victoria credited founder Maggie Heese with organizing community fundraising through what she described as the "5 7 5 club," a sponsorship program that helped pay off the property mortgage within three years. Victoria said Heese "did a lot for veterans" and that she passed away recently.

Victoria emphasized that the group's operations are community-funded. "We are completely community funded," she said, adding that the organization does not currently receive state or federal funds. She asked residents to support the Veterans Village Thrift Store, which the organization operates and says is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; store proceeds and in-kind donations support veterans and can be used to stock cabins.

"Right now, we desperately need furniture donations," Victoria said, noting winter pressures on capacity and a recurring need for beds and household items. She also said the group offers cabin sponsorships that cover a cabin's needs for a full year for donors who want a more sustained contribution.

Looking ahead, Victoria said Walking Down Ranch plans to demolish and rebuild its main office on White Mountain Boulevard and is expanding food-sufficiency efforts, including a new garden and plans for a chicken coop. She asked community members with resources to contact the organization to assist with these projects.

The podcast host, Rob Hefner of the town's Talk of the Town, closed by directing listeners to the thrift store and town hall for contact information and encouraging support for the nonprofit's donation and sponsorship programs.

For those interested in supporting Walking Down Ranch, Victoria said donations and sponsorship information is available at the Veterans Village Thrift Store during its posted hours; callers or visitors can also reach the group through town hall channels.