Housing as Dignity

By providing housing and home modifications tailored to physical and emotional needs, we foster independence, healing, and dignity, because stable and accessible living environments are foundational to personal and communal recovery. This strategy centers on using housing not just as shelter, but as a transformative tool that restores autonomy and honors sacrifice or trauma. It unites organizations that adapt physical environments—through mortgage-free homes, smart technology, or accessibility upgrades—to address both material and psychological needs. Unlike general housing support, this approach explicitly links structural interventions to deeper outcomes like dignity, remembrance, and long-term resilience, particularly for first responders, veterans, grieving families, and people with disabilities.

orgs running it

activities of those orgs

activity groups touched

who runs it

Organizations running this strategy · 5

what it looks like in practice

Activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above — what the strategy looks like on the ground.

Financial assistance for home modifications and equipment FAMILIES TOUCHED BY MS INC
direct service
Provides financial assistance to families affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) for home equipment and renovations that support independent living.
Accept and leverage independent fundraising STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Receives support from independent fundraising initiatives, such as a professional wrestling event in Rahway, New Jersey, that raised $9,000 for the foundation.
Conduct nationwide remembrance and fundraising tours STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Organizes the Steel Across America Tour and the 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit tour, transporting authentic World Trade Center steel beams across the country to visit landmark locations, sporting events, and town squares from May through September 2026.
Deliver 9/11 education and remembrance programs STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Implements the Never Forget program by providing educational curriculum to schools, operating a 9/11 Speakers Bureau, and touring the 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit nationwide. The foundation has educated over 1 million people through these efforts.
Engage volunteers in service projects STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Mobilizes a volunteer force of 400,000 associates to support veterans, train skilled tradespeople, and assist disaster-affected communities.
Eradicate veteran homelessness through housing and support STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Operates the Homeless Veteran Program, providing housing and wraparound services to homeless veterans. Since its 2022 launch, the program has assisted 17,500 individuals, including through initiatives like the Veterans Village in Jacksonville, Florida.
Host signature fundraising events STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Organizes annual events including the Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk NYC, Tower Climb NYC, the Bravest BBQ, and the Celebrity Golf Classic to raise funds and awareness. The Bravest BBQ alone raised over $1 million over 14 years.
Produce documentary content on 9/11 legacy STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
research
Produced a one-hour documentary titled "Never Forget: How Baseball Helped New York Heal," which explores the role of baseball in the city's recovery after the 9/11 attacks.
Provide mortgage-free and specially-adapted smart homes STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Builds and donates mortgage-free, fully accessible smart homes to catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, as well as to surviving families of fallen military members and first responders. The program includes commitments such as delivering 343 homes in 2026 to honor FDNY heroes lost on 9/11.
Support education for children of home recipients STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
direct service
Offers full scholarships for undergraduate and accredited trade school programs to children of families who receive homes through the foundation’s programs.
Operate accessible domestic violence crisis shelter FREEDOM HOUSE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY INC
direct service
Established and operates a fully accessible domestic violence crisis shelter specifically for people with disabilities.
Facilitating home purchases and property modifications for individuals with special needs COVENANT HOUSING CORPORATION OF CENTRAL
direct service
Assists individuals with special needs in purchasing homes and making property modifications to support independent living. Served 8 individuals during the reporting period.
Providing environmental modifications and assistive technology for households with disabilities COVENANT HOUSING CORPORATION OF CENTRAL
direct service
Delivers environmental modifications and assistive technology to households with physical or developmental disabilities to enhance accessibility and independence. Served 24 households during the reporting period.
Provides shelter and care for children, refugees, and seniors FRIENDS OF MISHPACHA ORPHANAGE ODESSA
direct service
Offers shelter and care services to vulnerable populations including children, refugees, and seniors. This program reflects the organization's operational focus on direct support and residential care.