Major investments and improvements made to Holyoke Veterans’ Home
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A major milestone was celebrated on Friday in Holyoke, benefitting veterans all across western Mass.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago stopped by the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke this morning to recognize some historic investments made to the facility.
“Private rooms, better day space, better program addict space for the staff and individuals here, it’s the type of investment you’re proud of if you live in Massachusetts,” Driscoll told us.
They highlighted the turnaround achievements made at the facility, coming more than four years after a deadly COVID outbreak swept through the site, claiming the lives of dozens of veterans. Now, they have a chance to reclaim the headlines by shining a light on the positive.
“Just such a proud moment to see the amazing staff that’s here, giving back every single day to the veterans who are in their care,” Driscoll emphasized.
Those achievements include securing over $260 million in federal funding to build a new state of the art Veterans’ Home building, something Lieutenant Governor Driscoll says her administration is proud to support.
“With a veterans secretary and a governor who continues to make investments in this space to see this building going up, rising and being able to provide long-term care to veterans who need it and an adult day component, really warms my heart.”
Western Mass News also spoke with Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago, who emphasized the need to reform veteran care in Massachusetts.
“Although you can’t change the past, you can shape the future and that’s what we’ve been committed to do,” Santiago said. “Here, investing the resources this community needs, we’re talking about the highest record investment the Holyoke Veterans’ Home has ever had before, we’re talking about passing the comprehensive legislation bill in the history of the Commonwealth.”
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll expressed the importance of investing in our veterans.
“Individuals who have sacrificed for this country to be able to have a place that they can be well cared for with dignity and respect is a critical part of what I consider to be strong democratic values, giving back to neighbors in need.”
While construction of the new Massachusetts Veterans’ Home in Holyoke remains ongoing, Secretary Santiago told us the project is slated for completion in late 2026.
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