Velis secures increased funding for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

Dec. 1, 2020 | Dennis Hackett
dennis@thereminder.com

State Sen. John Velis
Reminder Publishing file photo

WESTERN MASS. – As a part of the Massachusetts state Senate’s final budget for fiscal year 2021 (FY21), the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home will receive an amendment for an ombudsman’s office and an increased overall budget, while two local Boys and Girls Clubs, along with Baystate Health and the Agawam Police Department, also received additional funding.

Second Hampden and Hampshire District state Sen. John Velis, who is also a member of the Holyoke Soldier’s Home Legislative Oversight Committee, said one of the biggest concerns he heard from families with relatives at the Soldiers’ Home was a lack of accountability from administration.

“When I was having these meetings with families who lost loved ones or still had loved ones up there at the home, a recurring theme I heard over and over again is that the families didn’t have any place to bring their concerns,” he said.

By establishing an ombudsman’s office, Velis said families and staff will have a way to keep the administration in check.

“One of the beautiful things about an ombudsman’s office is that it is independent, impartial and confidential. We’re providing that place where a family member or staff member can air their grievances and have someone that has the ability to do something about it. I think it’s a great way to cut through the red tape and hold the administration accountable,” he said.

Velis said the amendment passed in the Senate unanimously with a 39-0 vote.

Along with the amendment, the Senate also agreed to increase the Soldiers’ Home’s budget by $1.5 million for the current fiscal year.

“The issue right now is that our findings aren’t due until March 2021, right before the we take up the FY22 budget. I felt it was paramount that we got a quick injection of cash and resources to the Holyoke Soldier’s Home this year, obviously we are going to get to the systemic issues but it shows me a commitment from the Senate to put their money where their mouth is and put the resources to it,” he said.

Velis also helped pass an additional $200,000 to the Soldiers’ Home for personal protective equipment as part of the COVID-19 Supplemental Budget back in July.

In addition to extra money for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, the final Senate budget also includes an extra $50,000 for both the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Westfield and Greater Holyoke because of their work during the pandemic, including offering free meals to residents in their communities.

“One of the things that had an impact on me in visiting both the Westfield and Holyoke Boys and Girls clubs post-COVID is seeing everything they are doing above and beyond their mission. Everything they are doing is great but it’s not free,” Velis said.

He also said it was important for him to repay the clubs for the work they have done this year in both communities.

“I’m happy that we were able to do that and get it passed. The hope with all of this is that when the pandemic goes away, they are going to be in the best possible position to resume their services. From my experience, Boys and Girls Clubs do so many things for our communities and for those of us in a position to help them out, we need to do what we can to reciprocate,” he said.

The final budget amendment Velis helped institute was to give an additional $100,000 to Baystate Health and $50,000 to the Agawam Police Department to help combat the opioid crisis.

“The unfortunate reality is that the opiate pandemic is still out there. We just saw an increase in the number of fatal overdoses. There was a recent uptick in Agawam with those overdoses so this is just trying to help out in any way I can by giving them some additional resources,” he said.

Velis added that the Agawam Police Department and Baystate Health would identify the best ways to use the extra money to combat the crisis.

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