Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Proposes $2 Million in Continued Funding to Support Veteran Clinical Care at Home Base

CHARLESTOWN — Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago yesterday visited Home Base, a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston and a National Center of Excellence. The organization provides lifesaving clinical care, wellness, education, and research, at no cost to veterans, service members, and their families. Joined by Home Base executive director Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond and Representative Dan Ryan, Secretary Santiago championed $2 million in continued funding proposed by Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll in their FY24 budget announced last week. 

The proposed funding by Governor Healey will support Home Base’s clinical care, education, and training efforts regarding veterans’ mental and behavioral health issues, including post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorder and suicide prevention. This proposed budget investment would fund Home Base for the sixth consecutive year, including maintaining an increase of $700,000 over FY2020.

“I am honored to meet with General Jack Hammond and his team to learn more about the transformative and life-saving work being done to help veterans and their families,” said Secretary Santiago. “Governor Healey stands by our veteran community and has committed $2 million to support the critical services provided by Home Base in the administration's first budget. Today’s visit reflects the Commonwealth’s important partnership with Home Base, a nationally-recognized organization that has a proven track record of improving the health and well-being of our veterans--regardless of background, era of service, or geographical location.”

“Home Base is grateful to Governor Healey and her administration for including our life-saving programing in next year’s state budget. This funding will allow Home Base to expand access to mental health care, brain injury services and wellness-based programs to all Massachusetts Veterans, Service Members, and their Families, regardless of where they live in the State, all at no cost. It will also allow us to grow our statewide suicide prevention program and build clinical capacity in underserved Massachusetts communities,” said retired General Jack Hammond, Executive Director of Home Base. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was the first to provide government funding in support Home Base’s clinical programs and this continued partnership proves Massachusetts is committed to the long-term task ahead of us - healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans, Service Members and their Families.” 

"I want to thank Secretary Jon Santiago for visiting and touring Home Base, a renowned clinic that serves countless Veterans and Veteran family members in Charlestown," said Senator Sal DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. "I am grateful my district has an organization like this that provides lifesaving care and treatment to the people who put their lives on the line for our country. I look forward to working with the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services and my colleagues to support Home Base and clinics like it across our state." 

"It was my pleasure to join Secretary Santiago at Home Base in Charlestown as he steps into his new role,” said Representative Ryan. “Home Base is at the forefront of innovative, holistic care for our veterans and their families suffering from the hidden wounds of war. We are truly honored to have such a world-renowned facility in our neighborhood; nestled beside Old Ironsides, in the shadow of Bunker Hill, is such an appropriate place to serve the men and women who have served us. Thank you, General Hammond and team for all you do!"

Last week, the Healey-Driscoll administration filed their FY24 budget, the first to reflect the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services’ new Cabinet-level status. Governor Healey’s budget contained a total of $185.6 million in funding for the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services, including $2 million for Home Base. 

Home Base is a national nonprofit dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war for Veterans of all eras, Service Members, Military Families and Families of the Fallen through world-class, direct clinical care, wellness, education and research. Since 2009, Home Base has served more than 30,000 Veterans and their Family Members and trained over 85,000 clinicians across the nation,  

For more information about Home Base, visit homebase.org. For more information about the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services, visit mass.gov/veterans. 

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