Nassau County legislators, joined by representatives of Tunnel to Towers, announced plans to combat veteran homelessness on Long Island.
The bipartisan project, announced Monday, will increase the resources available to local homeless veterans by opening a Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village facility in Island Park.
“Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, independent, the first responders is something that all people can gather around and support,” Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, said.
Tunnel to Towers is a charitable organization founded in tribute to New York Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller, who was killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The foundation provides housing assistance and access to supportive services to veterans across the country. Through its homeless veteran program, the foundation is committed to ending veteran homelessness nationwide.
“We have a hotel in the Town of Hempstead on the border of Oceanside and Island Park. It was the source of problems for the community. There were allegations of drug dealing going on there, prostitution and it got very rundown after Superstorm Sandy,” Blakeman said. “So the county of Nassau took over the property until we could get a use that would be consistent with the community.”
When U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito was the Town councilman representing Island Park — the district where the property is — he told fellow Republican Blakeman that the hotel was a “disaster” and he could not find any use for it. After D’Esposito was elected to Congress, the idea of making this property useful for the community was carried on by Legislator Patrick Mullaney.
“Pat said, ‘we have to do something for our veterans’,” Blakeman said. “The first thought was ‘would Tunnel to Towers be interested? If we donated the land, would they be willing to build a facility there to house our veterans?’ And the response was overwhelming.”
The county donated the property at 3915 Austin Blvd. in Island Park to the organization so it could build new housing for homeless veterans. The organization will tear down the existing structure and build a 42-unit apartment complex. The project is privately funded and will not come at the cost of taxpayers.
Matt Mahoney, executive vice president of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, said this project is not the first one of its kind on Long Island, but it will be the first Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village in New York. He said the organization operates in all 50 states, with several villages built nationwide.
“These are not homeless shelters,” Mahoney said. “These are permanent residences for our veterans who deserve to live with dignity and pride because they’ve served their country and community and we cannot turn our back on them. We cannot leave them on the streets.”
Mahoney said he is dedicated to eradicating veteran homelessness throughout the country. He said that in addition to taking over the main facility site, the organization builds “comfort homes,” which are additional, separate, unique tiny homes for veterans.
Mahoney said the homes are the first step in eradicating veteran homelessness. The next is to make sure veterans have access to physical and mental health care and addiction counseling.
“We’re so proud to be part of the history of looking after our veterans, which should always be a bipartisan issue,” Mahoney said.
Mullaney said the vacant hotel has been an eyesore for the last decade. He said the property did not reflect the community around it.
“The Veterans Village is going to be a perfect representation of the pride and patriotism that Island Park has and the surrounding community,” Mulaney said. “So for that, I can’t thank the Tunnel to Towers organization enough.”
The new facility will be completed in 2026. Along with housing, it will feature on-site support services for veterans, including job training, benefits assistance, education assistance, financial budget management, legal advocacy, medical care access, mental health support, PTSD counseling and addiction treatment.
“I want to thank our elected officials,” Blakeman said. “We’ve come together. It’s one of the few times we’re not fighting because this is such a great cause.”
