Providing Homes and Hope for Veterans and First Responders
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T) was founded to honor the sacrifice of Stephen Siller, a FDNY Firefighter who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. He became a legend by racing with 60 lbs. of gear on his back through the blockaded Brooklyn Battery Tunnel toward the devastation of the Twin Towers of Manhattan. For more than 20 years since, the Foundation has honored his legacy by providing first responders, veterans, and their families with mortgage-free homes.
Halstead has partnered with The Home Depot to support The Tunnel to Towers Foundation as they build Veteran’s Villages, specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The Home Depot facilitates these building projects by providing discounted materials and products for T2T’s veteran housing nationwide, with Halstead-manufactured Verge Pro dryback as the flooring spec. Halstead team member,Gena Maurrasse, Regional Sales Manager ‑ Pro Northeast, is the main point of contact for this organization.
According to Gena, she became involved with T2T due to the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which decimated widespread areas in October of 2012 near her home. Sandy left many Long Island residents including the elderly, veterans and first responders desperate for help to rebuild or replace their destroyed homes – and T2T came to the rescue. It was in the aftermath of that destruction that the Halstead/Home Depot partnership was formed to support the cause of providing housing for veterans. Said Blake Matthews, Vice President – Pro Sales, “Gena has done an amazing job supporting Halstead’s role in this mission. This includes working with project managers at T2T, contractors, and architects to make sure everyone involved knows all the details when it comes to our flooring, including design, specification, installation, and supply chain.”
Homeless Veteran Program
In 2023, Tunnel to Towers provided housing assistance and services to more than 3,300 veterans. In November, the organization celebrated the grand opening of its Houston Veterans Village, a fully converted 161-room hotel. Phase 2 will include 15-20 comfort homes for older veterans. The property is equipped with a comprehensive living center on the first floor, offering veterans a wide range of supportive services. The Halstead team has provided them with design guidance along with partnering with Home Depot to make sure timing and installation goes smoothly.
T2T is in the process of developing additional projects, finalizing agreements, and searching for additional properties in: Atlanta, GA, Mobile, AL, Memphis, TN, Bradenton, FL, Harrisburg, PA, and elsewhere throughout the US. Halstead and The Home Depot will be offering helping hands to help facilitate these projects.