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Story County veterans commission urged to boost Home Base Iowa outreach after zero local applicants reported
Summary
Home Base Iowa staff told the Story County Commission of Veterans Affairs that the statewide program covers 178 offerings in 92 counties, but Story County reported no applicants; the HBI manager urged more local marketing and use of new postcards and website listings.
On May 11, 2026, the Story County Commission of Veterans Affairs in Ames heard a presentation from Home Base Iowa (HBI) program manager Robert Haege III urging the county to increase outreach after the county reported zero HBI applicants.
Robert Haege III, Home Base Iowa program manager, told the commission that HBI lists 178 programs across the state in 92 counties and that county Veterans Service Officers should be the first point of contact when HBI participants arrive in a county. He encouraged Story County to add local offerings such as YMCA access, county pools and city recreation centers to its HBI listing and said the county can request updates to the HBI website by emailing him.
Haege said Story County was reporting no HBI applicants "as of late" and challenged the commission to increase Facebook posts and ensure links to HBI materials to improve awareness. The minutes record that HBI has new postcards for VSOs to hand out and recommended VSOs review their application process to ensure connections to HBI.
Sandra King, director of external operations and county services (introduced as a guest), and Zach Skelton, director of Story County Veterans Services, were present for the discussion. Skelton acknowledged the county's low HBI engagement and noted opportunities to partner with Iowa State University, identified in the minutes as a CHAMPS partner, to keep talent in Story County.
The commission did not record a formal motion specific to HBI at this meeting; the presentation concluded with a commitment to consider additional local marketing and to route HBI update requests through Robert Haege III.
The commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2026, at 4 p.m. at 126 S. Kellogg, Suite 001 in Ames.
