The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is in the process of opening four new Veterans Villages as part of an aggressive expansion with the aim of creating housing for homeless veterans in a total of more than a dozen cities nationwide by 2026.
Tunnel to Towers broke ground on its newest Veterans Village in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 7, 2024, where the foundation said it will renovate a hotel into 120 units of single-occupancy affordable housing for veterans following groundbreakings of Veterans Villages in Buffalo, New York, Detroit, Michigan, and North Charleston, South Carolina. These four projects will create over 400 homes for veterans in these metro areas.
The rapid expansion represents a dramatic scaling of a program that launched just two years ago.
From Concept to National Program
In 2023, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation launched its Homeless Veteran Program with the ambitious mission to eradicate veteran homelessness nationwide. It has since provided housing assistance and services to more than 6,500 veterans.
The program started with a simple premise: Veterans who served the country should not be homeless in it. What began with a few facilities has grown into a network spanning the country, from California to New York, from Texas to Michigan.
"This Veterans Day, we honor those who served by extending a hand to those who have struggled since they returned home," said Frank Siller, Tunnel to Towers CEO and chairman, in a press release. "The Tunnel to Towers Foundation wants to deliver a clear message: that you have not been forgotten, and we will not stop until every veteran who served this country is off its streets."
Tunnel to Towers didn’t immediately reply to an interview request.
Current and Planned Locations
As of December 2025, Veterans Villages were operational in:
- Houston, Texas
- Riverside, California
- West Los Angeles, California (part of a 388-acre campus planned for 1,700+ total units)
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Mableton, Georgia, near Atlanta
Others were under construction or in development in:
- Denver, Colorado (120 units)
- Buffalo, New York
- Detroit, Michigan
- North Charleston, South Carolina
- Birmingham, Alabama (110 units)
- Bradenton, Florida
- Island Park, New York
The West Los Angeles property is a 388-acre site being transformed into a community campus for over 3,000 veterans upon completion, with almost a dozen buildings planned to provide over 1,700 housing units, according to the foundation.
Birmingham Breaks New Ground
The Birmingham Veterans Village represents the foundation's continued momentum into 2025. Breaking ground in October 2025, the project will include 110 affordable housing units designed to support veterans, according to WBRC FOX6 News.
The foundation purchased what was a Spark Hotel and is converting it into homes for 110 qualifying veterans, according to WVTM Channel 13. Construction began in late October, with completion expected in 2026.
Gavin Naples, senior vice president of the Homeless Veteran Program, emphasized the broader issue at the Birmingham groundbreaking. "Affordable housing in the nation is a national problem amongst America, not just veterans. We are positioning ourselves as the premier provider of long-term support of housing," according to WVTM.
Denver Project Details
The Denver Veterans Village will transform the former Fairfield Inn at 1680 South Colorado Boulevard into affordable housing for over 100 veterans, the foundation says. Suncor Energy U.S.A. donated over half a million dollars to support the project and veterans in the greater Denver area.
Global Construction, a firm specializing in hospitality and multifamily renovations, partnered with the foundation to deliver the project. Construction was scheduled to begin in November 2025, with completion expected in 2026, according to the firm.
The Scale of the Challenge
Veterans experiencing homelessness represent a small fraction of the total U.S. veteran population of roughly 18 million, but each one is a person who served the country and now lacks stable housing.
The problem concentrates in certain metro areas. California, with its high cost of living and large veteran population, has more homeless veterans than any other state. With over 11,000 homeless veterans in California, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation realized that efforts would need to be substantial enough to meet the current problem.
That recognition led to the foundation's involvement in the massive West Los Angeles VA campus redevelopment, the largest single project in its portfolio.
How the Foundation Chooses Locations
The foundation provides extensive grant funds and support to partner organizations such as U.S. VETS for renovations and services. In Houston, Phoenix, and West Los Angeles, U.S. VETS provides the on-site supportive services while Tunnel to Towers funds the construction and renovation.
The foundation purchased the Denver hotel property directly and will transform it into affordable housing, showing the organization's willingness to employ different models depending on the situation.
Location selection considers several factors: the size of the local homeless veteran population, existing Department of Veterans Affairs and nonprofit services, availability of suitable properties (typically former hotels), and local government support.
Presidential Recognition
In May 2025, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation received recognition for its work when it applauded President Trump's Executive Order to establish the National Center for Warrior Independence on the West Los Angeles VA Campus.
"The Tunnel to Towers Foundation fully supports President Trump's Executive Order," Siller said in a statement. "We have already provided housing and critical services to more than 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide, and we are proud to operate a facility on the West LA campus, directly serving veterans in the city with the highest concentration of homeless heroes in the country."
Growth Trajectory
What started as a program focused on providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and catastrophically injured veterans has expanded to tackle the broader challenge of veteran homelessness.
Each Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village will offer comprehensive 24/7 supportive services, ensuring veterans live comfortably, with dignity and hope, as they work toward financial stability and independence.
The foundation aimed to have helped 10,000 veterans by the end of 2025.
Funding the Expansion
The foundation operates on a grassroots fundraising model, asking supporters to donate $11 per month. "You can join Tunnel to Towers on its mission to support America's veterans, Gold Star families, and fallen first responder families by going to T2T.org and donating $11 a month," Siller said.
Beyond individual donations, the foundation has cultivated major corporate partnerships. The Home Depot Foundation has been a significant supporter. Since 2011, The Home Depot Foundation has invested more than $24 million into Tunnel to Towers and pledged to reach a $750 million investment by 2030, according to Hoodline.
Energy companies, construction firms, and local businesses have also contributed to specific projects, recognizing both the social benefit and the opportunity to support veterans in their communities.
What Makes This Model Work
The hotel conversion strategy allows the foundation to move faster than traditional construction. A ground-up affordable housing development can take three to five years from planning to occupancy. Converting an existing hotel can happen in 12 to 18 months.
The foundation also avoids some of the regulatory hurdles that slow down new construction. Hotels are already zoned for occupancy, have required safety systems in place, and exist in locations with established infrastructure.
Perhaps most importantly, the foundation pairs housing with services. Many homeless veterans have access to some VA benefits but struggle with the bureaucracy of accessing them. Having case managers on site to help navigate the VA system, along with immediate access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, addresses the root causes of homelessness rather than just providing temporary shelter.
Looking Ahead
With facilities opening throughout 2025 and 2026, the foundation shows no signs of slowing its expansion. Additional cities are under consideration for future Veterans Villages, with the goal of establishing a presence in every major metropolitan area with a significant homeless veteran population.
The foundation continues to identify properties and seek local partnerships. As Naples noted in Birmingham, veterans experiencing homelessness can reach out to Tunnel to Towers for immediate assistance even before facilities in their area open.
For veterans currently housed in the Villages, the message is clear: You served your country, and your country has not forgotten you.
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