Tunnels to Towers Foundation bringing Veterans Village housing program to Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A New York-based nonprofit known for its mission to end veteran homelessness is bringing its signature housing program to Birmingham with plans for a groundbreaking later this month.

The Tunnels to Towers Foundation, created after the September 11 attacks, announced it will open a Veterans Village along Colonnade Parkway off Highway 280. The project will include 110 affordable housing units designed to support veterans in the Birmingham community.

The foundation has already launched similar villages in Atlanta and Houston.

Senior Vice President Gavin Naples said the program goes beyond simply providing a place to live. The model includes 24/7 wraparound services such as case management, employment and entitlements assistance, peer support, behavioral health, financial literacy, and legal advocacy. Veterans will also have access to recreational spaces, including movie and game rooms.

Naples emphasized that unlike other programs, Veterans Village residents will not face time limits on their stays. He said the foundation is committed to giving veterans stability and dignity through permanent housing options.

“And it’s not somewhere where 6 months, 8 months, 10 months later you have to get out and go to another cycle,” Naples said. “It’s this never ending cycle of federal funding - you be here for 6 months, then you gotta go. You be here for another 12 months, then you gotta go. There’s no long-term solution for affordable housing for veterans with that service and that continuity of care. It’s an American problem. Veterans experience it too, but it’s an American problem.”

The Birmingham Veterans Village will be developed at a former hotel property and is set to break ground on Oct. 29, 2025.

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