News  Ambitious Strategy to End Veteran Homelessness Highlighted by Healey-Driscoll Administration

BOSTON — Today, Secretary Jon Santiago of the Executive Office of Veterans Services and Secretary Ed Augustus of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities met with staff and residents of Brighton Marine located at 77 Warren St. in Brighton to discuss the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal of reaching functional zero for Veterans homelessness by 2027. The visit was part of the administration’s statewide Housing Campaign to call attention to the urgent need to lower housing costs across Massachusetts and the ways in which the high cost of housing impacts everyday life.   

“We are in the business of transforming housing challenges into opportunities, especially when it comes to ending veteran homelessness,” said Secretary Jon Santiago, Executive Office of Veterans Services. “Secretary Augustus and I are committed to ensuring that veterans have the stable housing and supportive services that they need and deserve.”  

A lack of supply and subsequent high cost of housing have pushed many veterans into homelessness. Approximately 500-600 homeless veterans live in Massachusetts, many of whom struggle with mental health and substance use issues. Combined, the Affordable Homes Act, the End Veterans Homelessness campaign and the HERO Act, will invest in the creation of new supportive housing units and make affordable housing more broadly accessible to veterans.  

“No veteran should ever be homeless,” said Secretary Ed Augustus, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. “Since Day One, Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll have prioritized housing. Our shared vision for an affordable Massachusetts, means every veteran not only has a home but is getting the support services they deserve." 

The End Veterans Homelessness campaign is a multi-pronged partnership between EOVS and EOHLC to identify all homeless veterans in Massachusetts, develop and implement comprehensive and evidence-based strategies to prevent and intervene in veteran homelessness and bring it to functional zero. The campaign will coordinate efforts across federal, state, and the non-profit sector to address veteran homelessness and support our providers who are working daily to improve veteran care and housing.  

The Affordable Homes Act will commit $200 million to a Housing Innovations Fund to support innovative and alternative forms of rental housing for seniors and veterans.  

The HERO Act (An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Servicemembers and Veterans) will expand access to behavioral health treatment, increase benefits for disabled veterans, bolster support for businesses that hire veterans, update the definition of a veteran, expand the scope of the Veterans Equality Review Board, initiate a pilot program for LGBTQ+ couples denied IVF reimbursement by the Veterans Health Administration and codify medical and dental benefits. 

These initiatives, combined with the administration’s commitment to end veteran homelessness, will lead to a healthier, more stable Massachusetts.  

With more than a hundred units of affordable housing and comprehensive medical care, Brighton Marine offers more than just housing to Veterans and their families.  

“Brighton Marine is committed to eliminating Veteran homelessness and will continue to support all efforts by the Healey-Driscoll administration to reach this goal,” said Rosye Cloud, CEO, Brighton Marine.  

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