ABOVE: Ben Dziobek, who is currently in the Bravo Zulu House program, stands with the dog kennels which will soon hold dogs for the house’s animal therapy program.

WINNEBAGO – As 2025 comes to a close, Bravo Zulu House and the men bettering their lives there are looking toward the future.

Servant Leader Tim Murray said that since the grand opening, which took place in May, they have been putting the work in on additions to the sober living home for veterans with PTSD.

“We’ve nearly completed the dog kennel program,” he said. “The building is completed, the kennels are up, and we just need to get the fencing. Home Depot is working with us as a partner to put a lot of that together.”

The dog program would pair a veteran who has been at Bravo Zulu House for three to six months with a rescue dog and have them work together. If the veteran chooses, they can bring the dog with them after their stay is finished.

“The canine program is designed to take all of the documented medical benefits of canine therapy,” Murray said. “The idea is by pairing a veteran with a rescue dog, we get to save two lives instead of one.”

The house is up to six residents, and it has a capacity limit of 12. Murray said with the program’s focus and mission statement, it has had a national impact.

“We’re getting referrals, unusually so from around the country,” he said. “When you open a sober house like this, you hope to have a national footprint. Typically, you expect a disproportionate number of people to come from local treatment centers. Right now we’ve got men from North Carolina, Mississippi, Alaska, Wisconsin and two from the Twin Cities.”

With the progress they have made in 2025 alone, Murray said he is very proud of the team that has come together and the support this project has received.

“A project like this requires tremendous broad-based support,” he said. “The support of the American Legion, Martin County officials, state resources, the VFW, the DAV and the local citizens really embraced this project. Local employers have gotten on board and are supportive. All of our men are required to have a spiritual coach. The faith community of all faiths has stepped up and said, ‘We’d like to embrace these men.'”

Capping off the year, Murray said they received a grant of $25,000, which would be given if Bravo Zulu House could match it before the end of the year. After sending out word of this opportunity, Murray said Bravo Zulu House has exceeded that total by receiving $86,000 in donations.

All that’s left to reach their ultimate year-end goal of $200,000 is $9,843.

“The Generosity of people continues to amaze me,” Murray said. “People love veterans. The people in southern Minnesota love veterans. People in the Twin Cities love veterans. It’s very humbling and very satisfying.”

One of the men currently in the program is Ben Dziobek, who suffers from PTSD and nearly relapsed after 17 years of sobriety. He said Bravo Zulu House has been exactly what he needed.

“I needed a more supportive environment, and this house has been nothing short of that,” Dziobek said. “As soon as I walked in the doors, I felt the brotherhood, and that’s what I was missing. I’m really looking forward to furthering myself spiritually more in my recovery, as well as healing from PTSD, trauma and medical issues.”

Going into 2026, Murray said the goals are twofold.

“For the men, the goal here is to fill the house and save veterans’ lives,” he said. “With the women’s house, it would be to raise the money and begin saving women veterans’ lives.”

The plan is to begin fundraising for the Women’s Bravo Zulu House Sober House in 2026, and hopefully raise $2 million by the fall, so construction can be completed by the spring of 2027.