The Tunnel to Towers Foundation officially opened its new Memphis Veterans Village, providing housing and supportive services for up to 110 veterans and their families.
The grand opening ceremony occurred Friday morning, marking the completion of the foundation’s project to transform a former hotel on Riverdale Bend Road into permanent housing for homeless veterans.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee attended the ceremony alongside First Lady Maria Lee and representatives from Tunnel to Towers.
Honored to join @MariaLeeTN & @Tunnel2Towers this morning to celebrate the opening of the new Veterans Village, which will house up to 110 veterans & their families.
We’re deeply grateful to all who served & proud to support those who sacrificed so much for our freedom. pic.twitter.com/w1exW10QtK
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) August 14, 2026
“Honored to join @MariaLeeTN & @Tunnel2Towers this morning to celebrate the opening of the new Veterans Village, which will house up to 110 veterans & their families,” Lee said in a post on X. “We’re deeply grateful to all who served & proud to support those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.”
The Memphis project began in July 2024, when Tunnel to Towers held a groundbreaking ceremony at the shuttered hotel. The foundation purchased the property and began renovations, including new flooring, furniture, fixtures, and appliances.
Each veteran living at the village will have an independent living space, while the first floor provides comprehensive supportive services.
Tunnel to Towers says its Veterans Village model is designed to help veterans address the underlying challenges that can contribute to homelessness. Services can include behavioral health support, case management, employment and education assistance, benefits navigation, financial counseling, and peer support.
According to the organization, services are provided at no cost to veterans and are intended to help residents either establish long-term stability or eventually transition into more independent housing.
The foundation says its broader Homeless Veteran Program has provided housing assistance and access to supportive services to more than 20,000 veterans and their families through its Veterans Villages and National Case Management Network.
Tunnel to Towers has developed or is developing a total of 16 Veterans Villages in communities across the country, including Houston, Atlanta, Bradenton, Bayville, Harrisburg, Denver, Buffalo, Detroit, and Birmingham.
Plans for additional Veterans Villages are also anticipated in 13 more cities nationwide.
The organization says its broader mission is to ensure veterans have a “safe” and “dignified” place to live while receiving the services they need to work toward stability and self-sufficiency.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Tunnel to Towers Opening Event” by Bill Lee.
