Soldiers’ Home bill gets hearing 2 weeks before deadline
An ambulance arrives at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke March 31, 2020. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Published: 3/16/2021 8:54:59 PM
The deadly COVID-19 outbreak that swept through the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home last year underscored the need to reconstruct the long-term care facility with modern improvements, state officials and community members said Tuesday.
With federal funds at stake, Gov. Charlie Baker is pushing the Legislature to pass a bill (H 64) by April 1 authorizing $400 million for construction of a new veterans’ home in Holyoke, and the project faces an even greater spotlight amid the pandemic.
Secretary of Veterans’ Services Cheryl Poppe told lawmakers that the public health emergency brought new attention to HVAC and airflow issues in the facility. It also prompted additional interest in a “small home” concept with a majority of private rooms, a change Poppe said could not be achieved solely thro
New Report Highlights Needs of Massachusetts Veterans
Covid pandemic reveals urgent need for veterans housing, mental health support and access to services
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BOSTON, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Brighton Marine, a non-profit assisting Veterans with services and housing in Massachusetts, has released a commissioned report by The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) looking at the needs of Massachusetts veterans.
CNAS conducted research on demographic trends of the veterans in Massachusetts and interviewed veterans throughout the state. The interviews focused on health, housing, financial security, and social support. The Covid 19 pandemic hasn t spared our veterans. The CNAS report is timely and highlights the challenges veterans face every day. It s a roadmap for how veteran organizations across the state can better serve those who fought for our country, said