A nonprofit organization is breaking ground on a facility for unhoused veterans in Denver

DENVER — The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit founded after 9/11, broke ground Thursday on its Denver Veterans Village to end veteran homelessness.

The nonprofit plans to convert the former Fairfield Inn Hotel in Denver’s Virginia Village neighborhood into an affordable housing complex for unhoused veterans.

“Denver and the surrounding community have a large veteran population. It’s an area of ​​need,” said Gavin Naples, vice president of Tunnel to Towers’ homeless veterans program. “The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will completely transform this former hotel into approximately 120 permanent units of housing for veterans, but with a full range of supportive services aimed at addressing the root causes of veteran homelessness.”

Residents only pay 30% of their monthly income, with all utilities and in-house services included. On-site support services for residents include case management, behavioral health assistance, employment assistance, claims assistance, VA applications, peer support and a full range of other services aimed at reintegrating veterans into the community.

The Tunnels to Towers Foundation

Colorado National Guard State Chaplain David Nagel prayed at Thursday’s groundbreaking event.

“I am grateful to live in a state like Colorado where people care deeply about their neighbors. I’m excited to see this place being built,” Nagel said.

There is a renewed focus on ending homelessness among veterans. In June, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a partnership with the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS) and the Denver Housing Authority to expedite housing applications for homeless veterans and identify housing resources as quickly as possible.

At the time, the mayor said there were 52 veterans homeless in the city. He called it a “very solvable number” and hoped to have every homeless veteran in housing by the end of 2024.

The VA ECHCS has touted its own success in eliminating homelessness among veterans. The agency announced in March that it had placed more than 700 Colorado veterans in permanent housing in 2023.

Richard Butler

Naples said construction of the Veterans Village is still in its early stages.

“We are in the design and approval phase of this program. We hope to open it later next year or early 2026,” Naples said.

Naples encourages veterans who are currently unhoused to visit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for immediate assistance.