Staten Island storm victims offered Conn. housing

NEW MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Three weeks after the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, scores of families from Staten Island still don't have homes to return to.

Now a church in New Milford is stepping forward, providing about two dozen of those families with temporary housing, a place to go in a time of desperate need. 

The faces helping Sandy's victims, also happen to be the family of a September 11th hero, Stephen Siller.

"He was the firefighter who ran through the Brooklyn battery tunnel with his gear on his back to get there that day because the tunnel was closed for security reasons," said Frank Siller, Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

They started Tunnel to Towers in his honor.

"We learned early on that to give is the most important thing and that's what people are doing to make this successful," said Siller.

It's a Staten Island non-profit looking to help their neighbors after the storm destroyed thousands of homes.

With $1 million, they plan to buy mobile homes, and thanks to Faith Church in New Milford, they have a place to put them.

"I feel like it's the least we can do," said Frank Santora, Faith Church Lead Pastor. "You know religion can become a point of contention for people and this is an opportunity where it unites people."

So where do they plan to put all these temporary homes? In a field. It'll become like a village and in case it gets too cramped, the church says they'll open their doors.

"We'll have a movie night for them once a week," said Santora, "we'll also have our cafeteria open to them on Sundays for family meal and then we want to provide groceries for them."

They're planning to make room for about 30 units for one year.

To give back to help Staten Island residents move forward. A beam of generosity in memory of a man who gave so much 11 years ago.

"My brother gave it all, gave his life," said Siller. "We are trying to follow in his footsteps, in doing good, this is good."