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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A former hotel off Ashley Phosphate Road has been transformed into something its supporters say is far more meaningful than a place to stay.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation officially opened South Carolina’s first Veterans Village in North Charleston on Thursday, creating a long-term housing community designed to help veterans experiencing homelessness regain stability, independence and a renewed sense of purpose.

The North Charleston location is the foundation’s third Veterans Village nationwide, with about 20 more currently under development as part of a larger goal to build more than 100 villages across the country over the next decade.

Unlike traditional shelters or temporary housing programs, the Veterans Village offers permanent affordable housing alongside comprehensive support services tailored to each resident’s needs.

Executive Vice President Gavin Naples said the foundation’s mission extends well beyond providing a roof overhead.

“High-quality housing is only one aspect of it,” Naples said. “You need a platform to address root causes that veterans are struggling with for rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.”

The village includes on-site case managers, employment assistance, behavioral health services, financial counseling, legal advocacy and peer support. Utilities and transportation are included in the monthly program fee, which is $1,000 and never exceeds the affordable housing maximum for the area.

Veterans can remain in the community for as long as they choose, whether they need a temporary stepping stone or a permanent home.

Naples described the program as “not a handout” but “a hand up,” saying residents are financially invested in their own success while receiving the support needed to rebuild their lives.

For Army veteran Mark Delbrook, the opportunity comes after years of personal hardship.

Delbrook served in the Army for a decade before developing thyroid cancer and suffering a stroke, leaving him unable to work full-time. Rising living costs eventually pushed him into homelessness.

“This place has been awesome because it’s an affordable place and a clean, safe place, and it’s kind of allowed me to get back on my feet,” Delbrook said.

He said living alongside fellow veterans and having support available around the clock has already made a difference.

“The support we have here is just unbelievable,” Delbrook said. “Veterans love being around veterans.”

North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess said bringing the project to a city with deep military roots was a natural fit.

Growing up in the area and having witnessed the closure of the Charleston Naval Base, Burgess said he watched former service members struggle without the support they needed.

“I saw some of those people walking around...homeless,” Burgess said. “They lost their way because they didn’t have the support.”

He said the Veterans Village represents a chance for the community to give back to those who once served the nation.

“We’ve got to return that to those veterans,” Burgess said. “We’ve got to make sure that our veterans understand that we appreciate and love everything they did for us and how they put this country first.”

Burgess said the community created inside the village may be just as important as the housing itself.

“They’re bringing the troop back,” Burgess said. “Everyone is for everyone.”

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded in honor of New York City firefighter Stephen Siller, who sacrificed his life after running through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Since then, the organization has provided more than 2,000 mortgage-free homes to catastrophically injured veterans, Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders, while expanding its efforts to combat veteran homelessness nationwide.

Foundation leaders say the North Charleston Veterans Village is another step toward ensuring no veteran has to face homelessness alone.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A new public charter school designed to serve students at risk of not graduating is set to open in North Charleston in August 2026.

Riverstone High School is the first Second Mile school in South Carolina. The free public charter middle and high school serves students who face life barriers to graduation, as well as students and parents seeking an accelerated path.

Flexible schedule, open enrollment

The school offers two four-hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to accommodate students with work and family responsibilities. Class sessions run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again from noon to 4:00 p.m. Enrollment is open with no cap, and students who live more than 1.5 miles from campus will receive free bus passes; one to get to classes and one to ride home safely.

Principal Tamara Wynn said the school understands the struggle with education and prioritizes student trust before academics.

“There have been many students who’ve come to us who have been hesitant to trust us. They’ve had bruised educational experiences where they’ve been told ‘no, you’re not enough, you’re not going to do this,’” Wynn said. “We’re very intentional about breathing life to the students. We look at the student first and then, once they feel comfortable and confident and trust us, then we look at the academics and we support them and push them from there.”

Wynn said watching students’ progress is a defining part of the school’s mission.

“A lot of times you get to see their growth from start to finish because they are coming to us with a lot of work that needs to be done,” Wynn said. “When they come to us and they start earning those credits and they see their grade levels change, then just seeing kind of that light bulb click with the students? There’s nothing like it.”

Along with pushing students to find their best path to academic success and, ultimately, graduation, Wynn says it’s just as important to prioritize representation in the school’s culture, especially regarding what students envision for their futures.

“I want students to be able to see the success of our school, see us and then see themselves within, you know, different roles and positions,” Wynn said. I’m really, really excited to provide an opportunity to students who, for whatever reason, just need a different environment to grow and feel successful."

Block party set for July 17

Riverstone High School will host a community block party Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will include a campus tour, information about the school’s education approach, 10 vendors and an opportunity to meet teachers.

The school believes hosting a community event not only introduces them and their mission to the North Charleston area; it helps them start building a community with the students they will serve.