May 6, 2025
Dunham House is a facility for combat-wounded veterans in need of long-term residential-centered care for their wounds.
The Dunham House is a project in honor of Corporal Jason Dunham, who died at the age of 22 from injuries he sustained in a 2004 grenade attack in Iraq. More than 20 years later, Wounded Warriors Family Support broke ground in his honor to help veterans who survived similar attacks in combat.
The Dunham House for combat-wounded veterans officially broke ground Tuesday. Colonel John Folsom and others who worked to make this dream possible say this residential community is the first of its kind.
“I really believe that once this is up and running, once people see what we’re doing,” Col. Folsom said. “I suspect there’ll be a lot more Dunham Houses being put up in those communities that tell us that they need it.”
The Dunham House is a $13.9 million project that will serve as a long-term residential community for 30 wounded veterans. WWFS CEO and President Kate McCauley says there are already veterans in need of housing like this.
“The concept behind this is what happens to a veteran when the wife leaves, or mom or dad are not able to take care of the veteran any longer, so that’s what we’re seeing, and honestly, we couldn’t have it built fast enough,” McCauley said.
The single-story complex will span 27,500 square feet. It will have assisted living style one-bedroom apartments and community focused spaces with specialized units for veterans with greater physical needs.
“I believe that 30 combat-wounded veterans that come together as a group who have a shared experience, who’ve been through hell and back will bond together in a way that would not happen if that individual were to go to an assisted living center,” Col. Folsom said.
Former Omaha mayor and veteran Hal Daub says there is no better place for a facility like this than in Omaha
“We’re going to have 30 units here, but there is the potential to build 120 on this site,” Daub said.
The ground breaking symbolizes more than just turning dirt said one veteran in attendance. “See all these helmets on these shovels, used to be we saw helmets on a rifle, and it meant we lost somebody this means were helping somebody.”
WWFS says they are in the process of establishing how vets can apply to live at Dunham House. The development does not have any federal money tied to it, and the first group of vets should move in August 2026.
To watch the video for this news story, visit ketv.com
Dunham House will provide combat-wounded veterans with top-level care and a supportive community where they can live with dignity and independence. Dunham House includes housing and amenities to accommodate 30 veterans in Omaha, Nebraska. Dunham House is an initiative and project development with Omaha-based nonprofit Wounded Warriors Family Support. For more information about Dunham House, visit dunhamhouse.org.
Wounded Warriors Family Support is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. This organization is run by combat veterans for combat veterans. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, Wounded Warriors Family Support aids veterans and their families in healing the wounds that medicine cannot.
