Tunnel to Towers Honoring Veterans: Paying Off Mortgages and Tackling Homelessness

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation observed Veterans Day by announcing plans to pay off mortgages for 30 families of deceased military personnel. This effort helps ensure families have a secure home. The families span 22 states, covering nearly every branch of the U.S. military. The foundation supports surviving spouses and children of service members and first responders who died in duty or from related illnesses.

Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers, shared this news on a program, discussing mortgage payoffs and a housing initiative for homeless veterans in Pennsylvania. He emphasized the continuous sacrifice made for the country. “We are paying off 30 mortgages to Gold Star families. Many died from burn pit cancers like the first responders from 9/11,” Siller stated, highlighting the nation’s need to remember these sacrifices.

“So on a day like today, we want to make sure that America doesn’t forget that there’s a great sacrifice always being made for our country,” said Frank Siller.

The initiative aligns with the foundation’s pledge to deliver 343 mortgage-free homes by 2026, honoring the 343 firefighters who perished on September 11, 2001. This comes as part of the 25th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 attacks.

Siller explained the effort. “We’re going to deliver 343 homes for every firefighter who died on 9/11. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, we will deliver over 60 homes to reach our goal for the 25th anniversary.” Families of fallen service members across Texas, Maryland, Washington, California, and more were recognized in this effort.

The Gold Star Family Home Program is a key component, providing mortgage-free homes to eligible surviving spouses with young children. This offers long-term housing stability after losing a family member in service.

In addition to these efforts, on Veterans Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation celebrated the opening of its Harrisburg Veterans Village in Pennsylvania. This marks a step in addressing homelessness among veterans. The development, on the former Phoenix Mill property, features a 61-unit apartment complex and 20 comfort homes for over 80 veterans.

The facilities provide access to vital services like job training, assistance with veteran benefits, mental health support, and addiction treatment.

I said, ‘Hey, think about somebody who’s overseas protecting us, right, and the guy next to him gets blown up. They come back, have to assimilate, and many end up on the streets. It’s unacceptable,'” expressed Siller.

Tunnel to Towers launched its Homeless Veteran Program in 2022, aiming to eradicate homelessness among veterans. Since inception, the program has supported over 20,000 veterans and 10,000 children, providing housing and assistance. The Harrisburg site joins others in Memphis, North Charleston, Houston, and Atlanta, with more developments underway.

Siller stressed the need to go beyond housing, addressing the emotional, financial, and medical struggles that contribute to veteran homelessness.

The next Veterans Village will open in Denver, Colorado, on December 9, with additional sites planned for 2027.