The interview of Dave the Water Man Ross in The Invisible Ones Homeless Combat Veterans documentary

The Invisible Ones: Homeless Combat Veterans

The Invisible Ones

Homeless Combat Veterans

A documentary about American veterans sleeping on the streets and under freeway bridges: how they got there, and what the rest of us can do to help them.

In 2007, with the Iraq War on the news every night, cars everywhere carried yellow “Support Our Troops” ribbons. At the same time, by the VA’s own estimate, more than 150,000 veterans were homeless on any given night. Most Americans never noticed them.

Featuring
Congresswoman Susan Davis, Dave “The Water Man” Ross, Al Pavich
Director
Mark Schulze
Released
2008. Remastered in 2025
Running time
40 minutes
The Invisible Ones: the trailerThe full film is below

Watch the full film — $5

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One night in January

Every January, communities across the country count the people sleeping in shelters and outside. It is the closest thing the country has to a census of homelessness.

The 2025 count found the lowest number of homeless veterans since veterans were first counted in 2009, and less than half of that first count. Stand Downs, housing programs and thousands of volunteers helped get it there.

But the progress has slowed. The number fell only about 1% from the year before, and more than 13,000 veterans still spent that night outside.

32,495

veterans without a home on one night in January 2025. Each dot is 100 of them.

  • 13,518 outside, in cars, or under bridges
  • 18,877 in shelters
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report

Three days off the street

In 2007, Mark Schulze and Patty Mooney, the founders of Crystal Pyramid Productions, filmed the 20th San Diego Stand Down.

In the military, a stand down means pulling exhausted troops off the line to rest. San Diego’s Stand Down does the same for homeless veterans: for three days they step off the street into a camp run by Veterans Village of San Diego, with the VA providing medical care and benefits help.

The first one was held in San Diego in 1988. It became the model for Stand Downs in cities across the country, started by people who couldn’t accept that the country’s veterans were living on its streets.

What three days provide

  • Showers
  • Hot meals
  • Fresh clothing
  • Medical care
  • Dental care
  • Holistic care
  • Counseling
  • Legal help

All of it from volunteers and staff who give their time.

Veterans resting on the grass in the shade of camouflage netting at San Diego Stand Down
Under the camouflage netting, veterans rest in the shade between services.
A woman in a wheelchair is pushed past a row of American and military service flags
A row of American and service flags runs through the camp.
View from the Stand Down stage over a crowd of veterans, with a freeway overpass beyond the field
Looking out from the stage. A freeway runs along the edge of the field.

On the stage

Stand Down was started by veterans, for veterans. In 2007 its founders were still there, and Robert Van Keuren, who launched the first one with Dr. Jon Nachison in 1988, spoke from the stage.

So did a group of young service members recovering from their wounds, some still on crutches. Older veterans in the crowd stood, saluted, and reached up to shake their hands.

A crowd of veterans stands in front of the camouflage-covered stage
The crowd in front of the stage.
Robert Van Keuren in a bush hat and sunglasses speaking into a microphone
Robert Van Keuren, co-founder of Stand Down.
Four young service members, two on crutches, stand on stage beside an older veteran
Young service members recovering from their wounds.
A veteran in the crowd salutes while another reaches up to shake hands with a young service member on stage
A salute and a handshake from the crowd.

Why they made the film

Patty and Mark spent two days interviewing men and women who had served their country. Some had lost limbs. None had a home. At the end, Patty was overcome.

“After three days of respite from the streets, they have to return to that harsh reality. We must do something for them!”

Patty Mooney

“Why don’t we leverage our strengths and skills? Let’s create a documentary.”

Mark Schulze

The film took a year. Everyone involved gave their work for free: the music, the box cover art, the website and the DVD duplication.

Patty edited on nights and weekends and fought one technical problem after another. Whenever she thought about giving up, she remembered that there were veterans sleeping outside that very night, and she kept going.

Remastered in 2025

In 2025, Patty Mooney remastered and re-edited the film, with sharper picture, better sound and a tighter story. The new version has a new score by Candace Love.

Patty Mooney stands behind a video camera on a tripod, filming Dave Ross as he speaks into a microphone
Patty Mooney filming Dave “The Water Man” Ross.
Al Pavich gestures while talking with a man in a white shirt beside the stage as a camera operator films them
Al Pavich (left) on camera beside the Stand Down stage.

After the three days

When Stand Down ends, the tents come down and most of the veterans go back to the street.

The film followed them there, out with Dave “The Water Man” Ross, who did street outreach to the people living there, and Congressman Bob Filner.

Seen from behind, a man shades his eyes as he looks across a street at a homeless encampment, with Dave Ross beside him
Congressman Bob Filner looks across the street at an encampment, with Dave Ross beside him.
Dave Ross sits on the sidewalk with his arm around a smiling woman holding a stuffed dog
Dave Ross with a woman living on the street.
A bearded man in a red shirt and a trucker cap sits in a folding chair in front of his belongings
A man on the street, with his belongings behind him.

Voices in the film

Dr. Jon Nachison in a bush hat and vest, seated for his interview with the Stand Down tents behind him
Dr. Jon Nachison, Stand Down director, during his interview.
Dr. Jon Nachison holds a microphone beside Al Pavich, who reads from a sheet of paper under camouflage netting
Dr. Jon Nachison and Al Pavich on stage.

Awards and festivals

  • Platinum Ava Award
  • Gold Aurora Award
  • Gold Hermes Award
  • Telly Award
  • Accolade Award of Merit
  • Communitas Award
  • Buffalo Niagara Film Festival May 2009
  • Big Bear International Film Festival
  • Riverside Film Festival

Where to watch

If you know a veteran without a home

The VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans is free and confidential, and answers 24 hours a day. Veterans can call for themselves, and family, friends and neighbors can call for them.

877-424-3838

That’s 877-4AID-VET. You can also chat online, or ask for the homeless coordinator at any VA medical center.

  • Support Stand DownVeterans Village of San Diego runs San Diego’s Stand Down every summer and needs volunteers and donations.
  • Find one near youStand Downs now happen in cities across the country. Your local VA medical center can tell you when the next one is.
  • Share the filmIt was made to be seen. Send this page to someone who should watch it.

Further reading

About the film

Filmed
2007, at the 20th San Diego Stand Down, plus interviews with veterans’ advocates and lawmakers
Released
2008. Remastered and re-edited in 2025
Running time
40 minutes
Director
Mark Schulze
Music
Candace Love (2025 edition)
Studio
New & Unique Videos®

Forty minutes with the veterans most of us walk past. The remastered film is $5.

Watch the full film

Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze are San Diego filmmakers and the co-founders of New & Unique Videos, making independent films since 1985.