Paralyzed Veteran gifted accessible smart home in Coleman by Tunnel to Towers Foundation

COLEMAN, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Retired Army Sergeant Will Hoyum is starting a new chapter in Coleman thanks to a life-changing gift from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Hoyum shared with KTAB/KRBC that about three years ago, he received the news that he had been selected to receive a new ADA-compliant smart home designed to help him live more comfortably and enjoy quality time with his family. Initially hesitant to apply, Hoyum felt that receiving a home was a very generous gift.

“I was pretty surprised when I first heard about it. So, I put in for it, and I have always kind of been stubborn about doing it because it’s a huge gift. This is a massive thing to receive from somebody, but it’s frustrating to not have accessibility,” explained Hoyum.

His journey began in 2009 when he enlisted in the Army, drawn by the physical challenge. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a vehicle recovery truck commander. In 2012, his life took a dramatic turn when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device, leaving him critically injured and paralyzed from the chest down. Since then, he has faced numerous challenges, including navigating businesses and places that are not ADA-compliant and even encountering obstacles inside his own home.

“There’s a lot of difficulties with not being able to do a full spin inside your house at certain points. If you’re going down a hallway, you’ve got to back out of the hallway or find turnaround points,” added Hoyum.

Although Hoyum was born in Texas, grew up in Illinois, and now lives in Arizona, he knew once he was selected to receive a brand-new ADA-compliant home that he wanted to return to Texas. He chose Coleman as the town to start his new life. The home’s new technology, including a touch-activated kitchen faucet and pull-out cabinets, will make daily tasks like cooking easier. All of this was made possible thanks to donations from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

“I always love Texas just because I was born here. My folks live in Illinois, so I spent a lot of my life up there. I lived in a town with a population of 500, and it’s just a better way of life. It seems like it to me. I’ve always loved that when I was a kid, there were a lot more fields and empty roads,” Hoyum shared. “Having a home that’s super easy to navigate and be able to do every chore that’s asked for in the house is nice. I can contribute a lot more, since getting injured, around the house, so that’s a huge perk of this place being accessible,” shared Hoyum.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was established after the 9/11 attacks in memory of a New York City firefighter who lost his life that day. Since then, the foundation has been providing homes to injured veterans, first responders, and their families, including 90 families in Texas. As part of the ceremony, Hoyum was presented with an American flag made from steel recovered from the World Trade Center, symbolizing the sacrifice he made for our country.

Hoyum was surprised with a first look at his new home on January 19th during a ceremony attended by Coleman Mayor Tommy Sloan, first responders, and other civic leaders.

The event concluded with the Hoyum family raising an American flag in their front yard, marking the first step in transforming their new house into a home.