Memphis News: Memphis Veterans Village Opens 110 Permanent Homes for Local Veterans in Southeast Memphis
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Direct Answer
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has transformed the former hotel at 7060 Riverdale Bend Road into 110 permanent supportive housing units for local veterans experiencing homelessness, and applications are now being accepted through the foundation’s Veterans Village inquiry process.
The Memphis Veterans Village offers more than a temporary room. It provides permanent studio apartments, supportive services, and a stable place where veterans can begin rebuilding their lives with dignity. The opening adds Memphis to a national effort that Tunnel to Towers says has already provided housing assistance and supportive services to more than 20,000 veterans and their families.
By Dr. Layne McDonald, Founder of Memphis News with a Purpose
Beat: Faith & Community
A Bible Study on Making Room for Those Who Served
The opening of Memphis Veterans Village is a housing announcement, but it is also a community lesson.
Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to notice those who are vulnerable and respond with compassion. Isaiah 58:7 asks:
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?”
That verse does not describe compassion as an abstract idea. It describes practical action: food, shelter, presence, and restoration.
For veterans who have experienced homelessness, a permanent apartment can become the foundation for addressing other challenges, including employment, mental health, benefits, addiction recovery, and family stability. A true home is more than a roof. It is a place to sleep safely, receive mail, prepare a meal, wash clothes, meet with a case manager, and begin planning for tomorrow.
The new facility is designed to provide dignified housing alongside services that support long-term stability. Photo courtesy of WMC Action News 5.
What Memphis Veterans Village Provides
According to local reporting and Tunnel to Towers Foundation materials, the Southeast Memphis property includes approximately 110 permanent supportive housing units for veterans.
The apartments are designed to provide a stable residential setting rather than a short-term shelter stay. The information provided for the opening describes studio apartments with full kitchens, including refrigerators and stovetops, along with laundry access. Housing costs are intended to remain affordable, with rent capped at no more than 30% of a resident’s income under the foundation’s model.
The village also connects residents with wraparound support, including:
Case management and veterans service advocacy
Behavioral health and mental health support
PTSD counseling
Employment and job-training assistance
Education support
Benefits and entitlement navigation
Medical-care access
Addiction treatment and recovery resources
Assistance with financial stability
Tunnel to Towers official materials describe Veterans Villages as single-room-occupancy housing with services provided at no cost to the veteran. The organization says residents may remain for an extended period while working toward greater independence, depending on program rules and individual circumstances.
Gavin Naples of Tunnel to Towers summarized the model in comments reported by WMC Action News 5:
“High quality, dignified housing” must be paired with “wrap-around supportive services.”
That combination matters. Housing can provide stability, but supportive care helps address the barriers that may have contributed to homelessness in the first place.
From Former Hotel to Place of Belonging
The project represents a significant reuse of an existing property. Rather than leaving a former hotel vacant, Tunnel to Towers converted the building into a community focused on veterans’ housing and recovery.
The project began as a redevelopment effort and has now become a permanent supportive housing community in Southeast Memphis.
Local television coverage reported that the facility officially opened Friday, August 14, 2026, and that the first six residents had already moved in earlier that week. The opening signals that the village is moving from construction and planning into active resident services.
The foundation has also described a broader goal of developing Veterans Villages across the country. Memphis is part of that national strategy, but the local impact is especially important for veterans and service providers in Shelby County.
Balanced Perspective: A Major Step, Not the Entire Solution
The opening is good news, but responsible reporting also requires acknowledging what one housing development can and cannot do.
One hundred ten homes can make a meaningful difference, but Memphis still needs a broad network of affordable housing, emergency shelter, mental health treatment, employment opportunities, transportation, and substance-use recovery services. Veterans who do not qualify for the village, need family housing, or require immediate crisis assistance may need a different program.
Tunnel to Towers’ Veterans Village application information states that the housing is primarily single-room occupancy. Veterans seeking housing for a spouse, children, or another household member may need to apply through the foundation’s National Case Management Network instead.
Eligibility and availability also matter. The foundation generally considers veterans who:
Served at least 180 days in the U.S. military
Have an honorable discharge or a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable
Are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Are interested in permanent housing
Applicants should be prepared to provide identification, proof of veteran status, discharge documentation, income information, and details about their current housing crisis. Completing an inquiry does not guarantee placement. Applications are reviewed, screening may be required, and available units can change.
For immediate help, veterans should not wait for a housing application to be processed. VA Memphis Health Care for Homeless Veterans lists a local coordinator, Thomas Radford Morris, at 901-523-8990, extension 7112. Veterans can also contact the Memphis Housing Authority about HUD-VASH, a program that combines rental assistance with VA case management and clinical services.
How to Apply or Help a Veteran Apply
The official starting point is the Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village inquiry form.
A veteran or someone assisting the veteran should:
Visit the official Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village page.
Select the appropriate location and complete the inquiry form.
Provide accurate contact information so program staff can respond.
Gather identification, DD-214 or VA identification, income documentation, and information about the housing crisis.
Respond to follow-up questions and screening requests.
Confirm current Memphis availability directly with Tunnel to Towers staff.
Family members, pastors, case workers, and nonprofit organizations can help veterans gather documents and complete the form. However, personal information should be submitted only through official and secure channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Memphis Veterans Village located?
Memphis Veterans Village is located at 7060 Riverdale Bend Road in Southeast Memphis.
How many homes are available?
The facility provides 110 permanent supportive housing units for local veterans, according to the foundation and local opening-day coverage.
Is this transitional housing?
The village is designed as permanent supportive housing, although residents may also use the program as a structured step toward more independent living when they are ready.
Who may qualify?
The foundation generally considers U.S. veterans who served at least 180 days, have an eligible discharge status, and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Final eligibility is determined through the foundation’s screening process.
What services are available?
Services may include case management, behavioral health care, employment support, education assistance, benefits navigation, medical-care access, and addiction-recovery support.
How can someone apply?
Begin with the official Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village inquiry form. Applicants should also confirm current Memphis availability and be prepared to provide required documentation.
What if a veteran needs help immediately?
Contact VA Memphis Health Care for Homeless Veterans at 901-523-8990, extension 7112, or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. In an emergency, call 911. For a mental health crisis, call or text 988 and select the Veterans Crisis Line option.
Christian Takeaway
Matthew 25:35-40 teaches that when we welcome the vulnerable, we are serving Christ himself. That does not mean every reader can solve homelessness alone. It does mean each of us can refuse indifference.
The Memphis Veterans Village reminds us that honoring veterans requires more than ceremonies and slogans. Honor includes safe housing, patient support, practical resources, and a willingness to see the person behind the crisis.
As Memphis continues to face difficult conversations about housing and poverty, this project offers a hopeful example: stability creates room for healing, responsibility, and a new beginning.
You can read more community-centered reporting in our Memphis News archive and explore related reflections in our faith and community coverage.
How to Pray/Engage
Pray for the first residents and every veteran still searching for stable housing.
Share the official Tunnel to Towers application link with a veteran, pastor, case worker, or family member who may need it.
Encourage veterans to contact VA Memphis for help with documentation, benefits, housing, and health care.
Support organizations that provide accountable housing and recovery services.
Thank veterans with more than words by listening, serving, and helping connect them to trustworthy resources.
Peacemaker’s Perspective
A peacemaker does not turn a complex housing issue into a political argument. A peacemaker asks better questions: Who is being served? What support is available? What gaps remain? How can the community respond without shaming people who are struggling?
Memphis Veterans Village should be celebrated while its work is carefully followed. Residents deserve privacy and dignity. Donors deserve responsible stewardship. The public deserves accurate information about eligibility, services, outcomes, and future housing needs.
The memorable lesson is simple: Support turns shelter into stability.
Call to Action
If you know a veteran experiencing homelessness or facing the loss of housing, complete the Tunnel to Towers Veterans Village inquiry form today and contact VA Memphis homeless veteran services for local assistance. Then share this article with one person who can help Memphis veterans find a safe place to rebuild.
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