11-04-2025
New Veterans Village breaks ground in Harrisburg
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – The nationwide nonprofit, Tunnel to Towers Foundation broke ground in Harrisburg along South Front Street on Thursday.
'Where we will build a permanent supportive housing program for 84 veterans in the Harrisburg area,' said T2T Homeless Veterans Program, Gavin Naples.
There will be a 64-unit apartment complex and 20 one-bedroom 'comfort homes.' It will offer support services including job training, benefits assistance, mental health support, and addiction treatment, plus basketball courts, gym, and game rooms.
'It will provide safe, stable housing for veterans in need. It will offer them not only shelter, but most importantly, dignity,' said Harrisburg City Mayor Wanda Williams.
The nonprofit was born after the devastation of 9/11.
'On September 11th I lost my brother,' said Chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Frank Siller.
Stephen Gerard Siller was assigned to Brooklyn's Squad One in New York. He has just finished his shift and was leaving the city when he got the call.
'He drives his truck to the mouth of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel,' said Frank Siller.
Siller couldn't get through the tunnel due to abandoned cars.
'So, what does he do? He straps on his 60 pounds of gear on his back and runs through the tunnel to the towers up the stairs and while saving people, he gives up his life,' said Frank Siller.
The foundation has built smart homes for injured veterans and first responders, and it provides mortgage free homes to gold star families and fallen first responders. Now, they build veterans villages across the U.S., but why Harrisburg?
'Why we're on this ground is that what's uncovered right here on this property is a beautiful stone that says September 11, 2001, that was buried here in the ground,' said Frank Siller.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation says it will take around 12 to 14 months to complete the village.
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