RACINE, Wis. — There’s a new way for active service members, veterans and their families to reach out for help of any kind, at any time, in southeast Wisconsin.

It’s called the “9-Line.” It can be reached 24/7 by calling 262-456-7059 or emailing 9Line@vowvillages.com.

What You Need To Know

  • It can be reached 24/7 by calling 262-456-7059 or emailing 9Line@vowvillages.com.

  • It’s currently serving six counties in southeast Wisconsin: Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties.

  • Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin started the 9-Line with funding they received from Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

  • Veterans in crisis are also encouraged to call the national Veteran’s Crisis Line. Just dial “988” then press 1, chat live, or text 838255.

It’s currently serving six counties in southeast Wisconsin: Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties.

The 9-Line was created this year by Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin (VOW) which runs Veterans Village, a community of tiny homes for homeless veterans in Racine.

Army veteran Michael Rembalski is the director of programming for Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin. He helped create the 9-Line and is among a team of people who answer emergency emails and calls.

“I just love giving back and helping other veterans,” Rembalski said. “It’s just so impactful knowing the resources that are out there and helping connect them. It’s something that no veteran should go through alone.”

9-Line operators connect veterans and their families to help of all kinds, whether it be treatment for mental health struggles, or services that can provide food, housing, health care and employment.

Rembalski said it was created after they noticed that many veterans in Wisconsin don’t know of all the resources that are available to them, or how to access them. The 9-Line hopes to bridge that gap.

“Sometimes they just need to know what benefits they have,” Rembalski said.

Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin started the 9-Line with funding they received from Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

Some of the organizations they work with directly are the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Racine County and the Captain John D. Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program.

“It can be difficult to take that first step,” said Peter Glowinski, a veteran peer-specialist with the Captain John D. Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program. “But that’s what it takes for recovery, is to walk through that door and seek help yourself.” 

Rembalski is trying to raise awareness, so more veterans know about the 9-Line.

“As long as people are reaching out and knowing they are not alone in this, to me, that’s a win,” Rembalski said.

The 9-Line can again be reached 24/7 by calling 262-456-7059 or emailing 9Line@vowvillages.com.

Veterans in crisis are also encouraged to call the national Veteran’s Crisis Line. Just dial “988” then press 1, chat live, or text 838255.