This initiative is set to provide housing for over 100 veterans.
The background
The Houston Veterans Village is part of the foundation's homeless veteran program, which aims to eradicate veteran homelessness by providing housing and services to homeless veterans across the U.S.
According to Brad Blakeman, senior adviser to the CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, nonprofit officials chose Houston as the first Veterans Village in the U.S. due to the high number of homeless veterans across the city.
The details
The Houston Veterans Village, located 18818 Hwy. 249, Houston, is a renovated Holiday Inn with 161 rooms ready for move-in. Around the property, Tunnel to Towers Foundation plans to build 17 one-bedroom homes in its second phase, expected to be complete in 2024.
The choice of Houston as the site for the Veterans Village is described as “a model for the nation,” Blakeman said. The foundation plans to replicate this model in other locations based on the success and effectiveness of the Houston project.
Frank Siller, the CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, expressed his commitment to providing homes for veterans that he would be comfortable living in.
“It’s our job to give [veterans] a dignified home that they can call their own,” he said. “Our mission is not complete until we can ensure that no veteran is left behind.”
Zooming out
Additionally, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced that it relieved 50 families from their mortgages or provided mortgage-free homes across 26 different states.
These benefited catastrophically injured veterans, families of fallen service members who died while serving, and families of fallen first responders with prior military service.
The assistance, according to Blakeman, supported:
- 33 families of fallen service members
- 13 families of fallen first responders
- 4 catastrophically injured veterans
