'A Beacon Of Hope': Ground Broken On New Housing For Homeless Veterans In Ocean County

BERKELEY, NJ — It's estimated that there are about 38,000 U.S. military veterans who are homeless. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is hoping to bring that number down, and they've brought that mission to Bayville.

A huge crowd of veterans and their supporters gathered at 159 Atlantic City Blvd. Wednesday afternoon to witness the groundbreaking of the future Bayville Veterans Village site. Upon completion in 2026, the housing project will feature 98 single-occupancy apartments and 24 standalone "comfort homes," exclusively for America's veterans. (Article continues below)

While there have been other of these villages opened in other states, this is the first one in New Jersey. Ocean County is home to the largest population of veterans in the state - and many of them were there Wednesday. According to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, it was their best-attended groundbreaking to date.

The number of homeless veterans is "not acceptable in the greatest country in the world," Tunnel to Towers board member Brad Blakeman said. Blakeman was working in the West Wing for President George W. Bush on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

When Berkeley Township was approached about constructing the Veterans Village, Mayor John Bacchione agreed "this has to be done."

He had only one request - that the homes be deed restricted so that only U.S. military veterans would be able to live there.

"It was not a hard sell," Bacchione said.

State Sen. Carmen Amato said he was proud that this was happening in his hometown of Bayville.

"This is more than a housing project," Amato said. "It's a community of hope, healing and support."

And these will be more than just homes, as Tunnel to Towers Foundation Chairman and CEO Frank Siller said it takes more than a roof over a head to end the cycle of homelessness. Along with the homes, the complex will offer wrap-around support services, including job training, legal services, benefits assistance, education assistance, and mental health support and counseling. And other amenities will be available like a gym, workforce development center, multipurpose room, game room, and lounges.

The apartments are intended as transitional housing, while the small one-bedroom comfort homes are intended for older veterans to live out the rest of their days. (Article continues below)

Siller founded the foundation in honor of his youngest brother, Stephen Siller. He was the youngest of seven and at the age of 10, became an orphan.

Siller recounted a tale from when his brother was 11. He looked at him with tears in his eyes and asked, "Frankie, why did mommy and daddy have to die? I wish I was never born."

He replied to his younger brother that his older siblings would always take care of him and, "I don't know why God put you on this Earth, but one day, you will do something very special."

Eventually, he grew up, got married and had five children. He was on his way home from Squad One in Brooklyn to play golf with his brothers on Sept. 11, 2001, when he heard that the towers were hit. He ran through the closed Brooklyn Tunnel carrying 60 pounds of fire gear and went into the South Tower, where his other Squad One brothers were.

He was never seen again. In honor of his memory, the Sillers launched Tunnel to Towers for first responders, and expanded to help veterans too.

Siller referenced the Prayer of St. Francis, saying that his parents, who were Franciscans, taught him that "while we have time, let us do good."

Deacon Robert Gay from St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church gave the invocation at the beginning of the ceremony.

"We pray that this new Veterans Village will be a beacon of hope [for veterans], where they can rebuild their lives, find new purpose and reconnect with the community," Gay said.

Visit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for more information.