Sometimes, a “Thank you for your service” just isn’t enough.
In the shadow of America’s gratitude for military service lies a harsh reality: 35,574 veterans slept without permanent shelter on a single January night in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report — a troubling 7% increase from the previous year.
While specific data on homeless veterans with families remains elusive, these former service members aren’t facing their struggles in isolation. The broader homeless statistics suggest that nearly 29% of all homeless Americans live in family units with children. Behind the numbers are real people — those who once defended our nation now living without stable housing, some while trying to care for dependents.
This is when heroes like Marshal LeMoine step up to the plate to help those who gave all.
Marshal LeMoine: ‘I Understand the Hiccups That Happen Along the Way’
Marshal LeMoine has witnessed firsthand the struggles that many service members face when returning to civilian life — struggles that can range from finding stable employment to securing affordable housing, all while potentially managing the invisible wounds of war.
“I went in at 18, went overseas to the desert, spent about three years there, came back, went to engineering school, and then began to work for somebody. At that point, I realized that I could do it much better and was more equipped to run a company than they were, so I started my own company,” he shares.
“But my experiences in and around the military and with my teammates and my soldiers and the guys that I have been in the military with has built camaraderie within the company, if that makes sense, and it’s made me devoted to helping some of the guys and helping veterans to have a better life because I understand the ups and downs.
“I understand the hiccups that happen along the way. And I know what it feels like to go fight a war and then come home and be disappointed by the civilian side.”
LeMoine’s intimate understanding of the veteran experience fueled his passion for creating innovative housing solutions through his company, SealIV, which is a testament to his belief that those who have served their country deserve more than just a “thank you.” They deserve concrete support in building meaningful civilian lives.
The brilliance lies in how he’s structured the housing financials: using short-term rentals to subsidize long-term housing for veterans, creating a perpetual funding mechanism that doesn’t rely on external donations or grants.
More Than Just Four Walls and a Roof
LeMoine’s template transcends traditional shelter models, addressing the complete spectrum of needs that veterans face when transitioning to civilian life, serving as the foundation for a much more comprehensive support system.
While traditional veteran housing initiatives might stop at providing basic shelter, the model he developed integrates mental health services, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurial support under one organizational umbrella.
A particularly original aspect involves hiring the very veterans LeMoine houses as property managers for the apartment complexes, transforming the housing into an employment opportunity, creating an immediate sense of purpose and responsibility while developing valuable property management skills. The goal, LeMoine explains, is to bring it full circle — housing, job placement, transition back into society, and then get them into permanent housing.
Elements Tailored To Veteran Needs
Marshal LeMoine’s housing developments incorporate design elements specifically tailored to address the unique difficulties veterans may face. Understanding that many struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and other invisible wounds of war, he creates living environments conducive to healing.
“When you experience any form of PTSD, however you have acquired that, it’s almost good sometimes to be able to work by yourself and not have to be around too many people and to be able to control that environment,” he observes.
The mixed-use nature of developments serves a dual purpose: generating revenue through short-term rentals while creating opportunities for veterans to engage with the broader community at their own pace.
Self-Sustaining Financial Architecture
Perhaps the most creative aspect of LeMoine’s housing model is its financial architecture, where, unlike many veteran housing initiatives that depend on continued charitable contributions or government funding, Seal IV’s approach creates a self-perpetuating system.
“Because we actually feed the furnace, we feed ourselves the money through the passive income side of the house,” he explains. “And that was the plan all along — develop passive income for operational cash flow so that we can operate without a paycheck and we can fund ourselves throughout the entire process.
“We’re not reliant upon the economy to perform well or for other people to do things for us,” he adds. “We can just do it on our own.”
Selective Placement Process for Housing Success
The success of LeMoine’s housing model depends significantly on thoughtful resident selection and placement. Rather than using standardized eligibility criteria, he employs a more nuanced approach to determine which veterans will thrive in his housing communities.
“It’s more of an assessment by myself after the interview process is complete,” he explains. “To kind of see how I feel about it, you know, I kind of go based on my impressions and my perception of who the individual is and what they’re capable of.”
The personalized selection LeMoine established creates balanced communities within each housing development, placing veterans where they’re most likely to succeed and contribute positively to the community. “I trust my ability to make that decision, and I do listen to what other people have to say, but the majority of the time, the final decision comes down to what I think and feel,” he says.
Expanding the Housing Vision
When considering the future, Marshal LeMoine continues to refine and expand his inventive housing model. “The program and the company haven’t moved as quickly as I want them to, but we’re gaining ground now, and we’re doing much better. So I think we’ll probably be where we want to be within a couple of years.”
His vision for veteran housing draws inspiration from America’s history of supporting returning service members. “I think the World War II generation that returned back, came to this country, rebuilt the country — those are the guys that we should emulate, and those are the guys that had the right idea. Because it is my responsibility for the freedoms that I do have to be able to give back to society and help people. It’s just my obligation.”
