Jacksonville is home to many veterans, but unfortunately nearly 3,000 of those veterans are homeless. This number is higher across Northeast Florida, which includes nearby Clay County. As of January 2024, there were 32,882 veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide.
While many agencies and organizations exist to assist the veteran populace, John Green Jr., chief executive officer and co-founder of Project Barnabus in Orange Park, said that many of the efforts being made to help these veterans are not fixing the problem.
“Food and shelter are key, but that is only the tip of the spear,” Green said. “Problems for these veterans is much more challenging than most realize, and it can get really messy.”
Green explained that a lack of resources, primarily employment, is a huge factor. “No job, no credit, and many times a prison record complicate matters,” he said.
“Trying to get them stabilized is important, but we have to provide wrap around services because many of them have nothing. They have burned every bridge and every relationship they have ever had.”
Chris Reindeau, a U.S. Army veteran who works with homeless veterans, said putting veterans with other veterans and providing numerous needed services is important. “Shelter is important, but we have to provide them safe shelter,” he said. “Putting them in flea bag hotels that are breeding grounds for drugs and prostitution is like throwing them back into the war zone.”
Part of the solution may lie with projects like the Tunnel to Towers Veteran Villages, a development focusing on homeless veterans that recently broke ground in Jacksonville.
New York-based nonprofit Tunnels to Towers purchased the former Ramada Inn at 9150 Baymeadows Road that will be transformed into 145 affordable apartments for veterans, while 20 freestanding homes will be built on the property for older veterans who served in Korea and Vietnam.
Each of the units will have new flooring, fixtures, appliances, and furniture that will provide veterans with a safe place to live. The first floor of the building will include a library, lounge, dining area, gym, and a workforce redevelopment center. Additionally, on-site comprehensive support services, including job training, benefits and education assistance, access to medical and mental health care, counseling, and addiction treatment to address the root causes of homelessness will be available.
Renovations are scheduled to begin when the project receives permitting approval from the city. Presently, plans for the development will allow residents to move in at the end of 2027. Tunnel to Towers Vice President Gavin Naples described the development as a place of comfort, respect and dignity. “What you’ll see next year is a place where our veterans can call home, a place for each of their specific needs,” he said.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation Homeless Veteran Program was launched in 2023. It has already provided housing assistance to more than 17,500 veterans and 8,000 of their children. Tunnel to Towers Veteran Villages currently operate in Houston, Texas; Riverside, Cal.; West Los Angeles; and Mableton, Ga. Nearly a dozen additional sites, such as the Veterans Village in Bradenton, Fla., are under construction or in the planning phase. Over a dozen additional sites such as the Veterans Village in Bradenton, FL, are currently under construction or in the planning phase.
Formed in 2001, Tunnel to Towers is a charitable organization founded in tribute to New York Fire City firefighter Stephen Siller. He lost his life on Sept. 11, 2001, during the World Trade Center attacks.
The name of the organization commemorates Siller’s run to the World Trade Center before being killed. Siller, who was off-duty at the time of the 911 attacks, had driven his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, but found that it had been closed for security purposes. Siller then strapped his gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, a distance of 3 miles, where he lost his life while saving others.
In addition to donations, money for the foundation is raised through its National Run, Walk, & Climb Series. The series includes nearly 100 locations nationwide for 2026, including St. Augustine and Orlando, as well as various other cities across the US.
Jacksonville Beach resident, Pattu Trousdell, volunteer event director for the 5K Run and Walk, St. Augustine, said this year’s event, scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Beachwalk, St. Johns, is open to all from the greater Jacksonville area. People can sign up for the run at: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/StJohns/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkStAugustineFL
“Everyone who works with this event is a volunteer, and all of the money raised goes to the foundation,” Trousdell said. “This year marks the 25th anniversary of 911 attacks, and our goal is that we keep our promise to never forget. Bringing this to the local community is very important, and I am honored to be part of this amazing charity and do my part in giving back to our nation’s heroes who give so much.”
Beth Heath founder and president of We Can Be Heroes Foundation said what Tunnel to Towers is doing is sorely needed. “This has been a long time coming,” Heath said. Florida is a veteran-friendly state, and so many of them live in substandard housing. We need more of these kinds of projects for our homeless veterans.”
In service to these veterans, Heath’s Foundation is sponsoring a Memorial Day Observance with Homeless Veterans Cookout on May 22 from 11 am to 12:30 pm at the Clara White Mission Veterans Unit on West Ashley Street in downtown Jacksonville.
