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From YouTube: Committee on City, Neighborhood Services and Veterans & Military Services on August 30, 2018
Description
Docket #0986 - A hearing to acknowledge and discuss the outreach of the Office of Veterans’ Services and opportunities and challenges facing Veterans and Military Families in the City of Boston
A
Last
Memorial
Day
I
was
honored
to
join
Commissioner
sterling
in
Mayor
Walsh
at
the
Puerto
Rican
veteran's
memorial
in
the
south
end
with
Chinatown
veterans
at
their
American
Legion
Post
in
a
kata
post
as
well
in
bulletville
Avenue,
the
african-american
veterans,
Latino
agent,
that
veterans
Oliver
and
our
respect.
We
have
seen
every
community
in
neighborhood
throughout
the
city,
stand
up
in
serve
our
country
and
as
a
society,
let
us
ensure
that
we
remember
in
honor
them
again.
A
I
want
to
thank
Commissioner
sterling
for
her
great
work
over
the
years
and
helping
veterans
I
also
want
to
recognize
the
the
work
of
mayor
Walsh
and
helping
in
leading
the
way
really
on
homeless
veterans,
providing
housing
for
our
homeless
veterans
working
closely
with
President
Obama
Vice
President
Biden.
On
this
important
initiative.
I
know
they
made
great
progress
once
again.
Thank
you
all
for
attending
today.
I,
look
forward
to
having
this
hearing
serve
as
an
opportunity
to
highlight
the
wonderful
work.
A
Our
city,
state
and
local
organizations
are
doing,
and,
and
for
me
it's
not
just
a
hearing.
It's
something
I
would
like
to
continue
would
like
to
continue
to
work
with
Commissioner
sterling
and
have
a
hearing
frequently.
So
we
can
get
some
updates
on
what
your
organization
is
doing
and
what
other
people
are
doing
and
but,
more
importantly,
to
make
sure
that
we
reach
as
many
veterans
as
possible,
who
might
be
homebound.
Who
might
read
it
on
the
newspaper
or
pass
it
along
some
information.
A
At
this
time,
as
I
mentioned,
city
councilor
home
aliens
in
City,
Council
McCarthy,
here
I'd
like
to
ask
city
council
McCarthy,
if
you'd
like
to
make
an
opening
statement
and
before
I,
do
that
I
just
like
to
recognize
city
council
McCarthy's
family
for
supporting
and
serving
our
country,
including
his
father,
was
a
Vietnam
veteran
US,
Air,
Force
retired
and
his
son
just
signed
up
enlisted
in
the
military
as
well,
so
we're
proud
of
the
McCarthy
family.
Oh
thank.
B
You
very
much
Council
I,
know
I'm
just
here
to
support.
My
son
is
that
fourth
inning
as
we
speak,
so
it's
all
good,
so
I'm
just
here
to
make
sure
you
know
clearly
Eddie
is
taking
the
lead
on
this
as
a
Navy
vet
himself,
and
you
know
my
family
serves
at
length
and
anything
and
everything
that
we
can
do
as
a
body
to
make
sure
that
the
veterans
taken
care
of
that's.
Certainly
what
we're
gonna
do
and
we'll
continue
to
do
so
so
you're
in
good
hands
with
Eddie,
though
that's
for
sure
Thank.
D
You,
mr.
chairman
and
good
afternoon,
Commissioner
Rob
Tom.
Thank
you
all
for
your
incredible
services
to
the
men
and
women
who
are
joining
us.
Thank
you
all
Thank
You,
mr.
chairman,
for
your
service
and
again
council
McCarthy
for
your
family
service.
We
are
indebted
to
veterans
and
military
families.
No
words.
No
programs
will
ever
be
able
to
adequately
express
what
all
of
you
have
done
and
what
it
means
to
us.
D
But
just
please
rest
assured
that
we
sit
here
fully
committed
to
do
whatever
we
can
to
make
sure
that
Boston
and
the
Commonwealth
provide
the
best
opportunities
for
veterans
and
military
families
and
we're
ready
to
work
and
help
and
support
you
just
as
you've
always
supported
all
of
us.
So
looking
forward.
Thank
you
for
calling
this
hearing.
Mr.
mr.
chairman,
Thank.
A
You
councillor,
Malley
and
I
just
want
to
read
a
letter
into
the
record.
This
is
from
city
councilor,
Edwards
co-chair
of
the
committee
as
well
of
the
hearing.
Thank
you
for
holding
a
hearing
on
issues
impacting
the
veteran
community.
I
am
pleased
to
co-sponsor
this
hearing
order
and
regret
that
I
am
out
of
town
at
this
time.
A
As
you
know,
veteran
issues
are
deeply
important
to
me
in
my
life
has
been
shaped
by
my
mother's
experience
as
a
veteran
of
the
US
Air
Force
I
vote
forward
to
the
hearing
in
am
grateful
for
the
testimony
provided.
Please
count
on
me
as
an
ally
in
ensuring
support
for
veterans
in
our
communities.
What
would
you
add
word
City
Council
District
one
at
this
time.
I
would
like
to
ask.
A
A
F
Thank
You
councillor
Flynn
both
for
your
service
to
our
country
and
you're,
committed
service
to
our
community
councillor
McCarthy,
counselor,
O'malley,
council
Presley.
Thank
you
again
for
your
commitment
to
our
veterans
and
the
council's
Committee
on
City
Neighborhood,
Services
veterans
and
military
affairs,
friends,
inviting
myself
and
my
fellow
colleagues
peers
and
mentors
in
the
veterans
community
to
speak
on
the
work,
that's
being
done
to
support
our
veterans
and
military
families.
F
So.
The
primary
function
of
the
office
of
veteran
services
is
to
assist
Boston's,
low-income
veterans
and
their
families,
as
well
as
veterans
experiencing
homelessness
through
a
financial
assistance
program
known
as
chapter
115
since
the
laws
inception
shortly
after
the
Civil
War,
every
city
and
town
in
the
Commonwealth
must
assign
or
appoint
a
veteran's
service
officer
who
oversees
these
benefits.
F
We
are
joined
today
by
some
of
our
counterparts
from
the
state
who
can
offer
additional
insight
on
those
resources
which
include
military
burial,
assistance
and
subsidies
on
medical
expenses
and
to
assist
our
clients
beyond
chapter
115.
We
are
also
part
of
a
coordinated
access
system.
That
is
an
online
portal
which
we
provide
a
warm
handoff
to
some
of
the
partnering
organizations,
many
of
which
are
in
this
room
here
today.
F
As
a
city
with
deep
military
history
and
traditions,
our
office
of
veteran
services
is
involved
in
commemorated
activities
related
to
Boston's
military
community,
such
as
Memorial
Day
placement,
Pearl,
Harbor,
Day,
the
prisoners
of
war
on
mission
and
NACA
missing
in
action
national
recognition
day
along
with
our
service
provider.
Events
such
as
the
Greater
Boston
Veterans
stand
down
being
hosted
here.
Next
Friday
September
7th
by
the
new
inland
and
center
and
home
for
veterans
right
here
on
City
Hall
plaza.
F
Well,
this
is
a
snapshot
of
some
of
the
services
within
the
office
and
there
there
are
other
larger
initiatives
that
Mayor
Walsh
has
committed
the
administration
to
including
the
challenge
and
veterans
homelessness
led
by
the
Department
of
Neighborhood
Development.
While
the
city
has
ended
chronic
veterans
homelessness,
there
is
still
work
to
be
done.
F
We
still
need
landlords
willing
to
house
previously
homeless
individuals
and
more
community
partners
like
Brighton
Marine
mass
housing,
making
groundbreaking
efforts
in
building
over
a
hundred
units
of
veterans,
housing
on
their
campus
veterans
and
military
families
also
need
to
be
reminded
of
some
of
the
lesser-known
benefits
such
as
the
Welcome
Home
bonus
offered
by
the
state's
treasures
and
the
city's
tax
abatement
offered
here
at
veterans
at
City
Hall.
Well,
I
can
speak
generally
about
these
programs.
I
was
deaf.
F
G
Of
all
I
will
thank
thank
you,
council,
Flynn
filler,
having
this
hearing
for
the
veterans
of
the
city
of
Boston,
the
council
O'malley
councillor,
McCarthy
council
personally
in
council,
who
were
also
attending
we
just
I,
just
if
I
can
explain
or
go
a
couple
over
a
couple
of
numbers
from
our
last
fiscal
year
that
we
had
through
our
office,
we
had
over
2,600
walk-in
clients,
the
veterans
that
came
into
our
office.
We
responded
to
over
10,000
300
calls
and
also
responded
to
over
3,300
emails.
Now
that
may
seem
like,
like
a
lot.
G
A
You
Thank
You,
commissioner
and
I,
also
know
that
you're
retired
from
the
US
Navy
as
well.
So
thank
you
for
your
service.
Thank
you,
sir.
Thank
you
shipmate.
Next
we
have
Tom
Lyons.
Vice
president
external
affairs,
mass
housing,
the
United
States
Marine,
Vietnam
veteran
active
in
helping
so
many
veterans,
not
not
only
here
in
Boston
but
across
the
country,
whether
it's
housing,
job
training,
he
was
active
with
the
New
England
Center
for
homeless
veterans
was
a
deputy
commissioner
of
veteran
services
for
the
city
of
Boston
as
well.
A
H
H
chairman
I've
been
around
a
while
I've
been
part
of
the
veterans
community
now
for
going
on
36
years,
and
certainly
as
Deputy
Commissioner
for
the
City
of
Boston
executive
director
at
the
Newlin's
Center
for
homeless
veterans
in
the
16
years
at
Marist,
housing
helped
them
to
create
housing
for
veterans
and
across
that
landscape.
I've,
really
understood
at
each
step
of
the
way.
How
important
it
is
for
veterans
to
have
people
who
they
can
go
to
who
they
can
talk
to
to
help
them
assist
in
so
many
areas.
H
But
housing
is
one
that
really
for
me
hit
home
when
I
became
the
executive
director
at
the
center
and
it
was
frustrating
when
we
had
a
veteran
who
had
completed
successfully
completed
programs
at
the
facility,
and
we
were
standing
on
the
curb
waiting
for
the
families
or
loved
ones.
To
pick
them
up
and-
and
they
struggle
with
with
where
they
were
going
to
go,
housing
certainly
continues
to
be
a
major
issue
for
veterans,
let
alone
veterans
who
have
to
call
a
shelter
home.
H
A
great
statesman
once
said
that
people
need
not
so
much
be
informed
as
they
need
to
be
reminded
and
I
think.
Today
we
we
are
going
to
be
reminding
the
council
in
the
city,
at
programs,
and
services
are
critical
to
our
men
and
women,
who
are
not
only
coming
home
from
two
wars
but
in
my
case,
certainly
veterans
who
are
aging
in
place.
Certainly
we
we
have.
We,
the
Vietnam
veterans,
are
becoming
those
all
the
veterans
and
I
want
to
bring
to
the
council's
attention
that
we
do
have
certain
things
in
place.
H
H
H
There
are
so
many
programs
available
now
that
veterans
can
take
advantage
of
both
in
the
nonprofit
community,
as
well
as
a
city
to
be
able
to
age
in
place
in
the
families
being
able
to
take
care
of
them,
so
they're
not
placed
in
a
home
whether
it's
a
nursing
home
or
in
a
long-term
care
care
facility.
The
other
area
that
I
would
suggest
that
the
council
think
about
and
look
at
it
is
when
it
comes
to
employment,
we
all
know
being
a
police
officer
a
firefighter.
A
I
A
At
this
time
we
can
open
it
up
to
questions,
starting
with
with
the
Commissioner
Commissioner
I
know,
you
highlighted
housing
the
important
role
of
making
sure
that
our
veterans
have
access
to
housing.
Vong
deployment
I
know
the
great
work
the
mayor
has
done
in
helping
returning
veterans,
especially
homeless
veterans,
access
housing.
A
What
what
other
steps
could
the
city
take?
Or
could
the
residents
take
to
work
closely
with
what
the
U
our
office
or
with
what
the
city,
leaders
or
state
leaders
the
federal
leaders
to
highlight
the
important
need
for
housing
for
returning
veterans,
whether
it's
here
in
Boston
or
across
across
the
state
sure.
F
I
think
a
lot
of
the
groundwork
has
been
laid
out
in
the
mayor's
commitment.
Definitely
an
ending
veterans,
homelessness
and
the
plan
put
in
place
with
Boston's
way,
home
I.
Think
as
that
continues
to
evolve.
It
may
also
propose
some
opportunity
for
veteran
veteran
preference
housing
as
well
I
mean
we
look
at
the
great
example
that
Brighton
Marine
is
setting
at
this
point
in
time.
F
A
We
still
see
a
lot
of
returning
veterans
coming
to
Boston
without
without
housing
they
are
they
Boston
residents
or
they
a
lot
of
veterans
that
are
coming
to
the
city
from
various
parts
of
the
country
seeking
opportunities
here
in
the
city
or
what
do
you?
What
are
you
seeing
in
that
regard?
I
can't.
F
Necessarily
speak
to
the
numbers
in
general,
I
can't
say
there
is
a
trend,
because
veterans
that
are
returning
do
come
with
educational
benefits,
and
we
have
some
really
great
educational
institutions
right
here
in
the
city
of
Boston,
that
they're,
taking
advantage
of
those
opportunities
but
being
able
to
assist
them
and
finding
housing
would
be
something
that
we
should.
We
can
explore
as
well.
A
A
You
know
military
families
as
well
from
my
experience,
knocking
on
a
door
and
saying
thank
you
for
their
service.
It
was.
It
was
almost
the
first
time
a
lot
of
these
older
veterans
actually
heard
those
words.
So
I
just
want
to
compliment
you,
our
staff,
for
taking
the
initiative
on
this
important
program.
But
what
are
the
results
of
operation?
Thank
event.
Sure.
F
We
found
I
think
that
veterans
that
the
veterans
community
is
definitely
a
high-touch
high
trust
community,
so
ensuring
that
we're
taking
the
necessary
steps
to
make
that
we're
engaging
with
our
veterans
on
a
face-to-face
basis
and
a
regular
cadence
has
proven
to
be
successful.
So
far,
it's
completely
volunteer
based
and
we've
reached
a
little
over
3500
homes
and
included
at
least
357
new
volunteers.
A
You,
commissioner,
before
I
open
up
to
my
colleagues,
I'll
ask
one
more
question
to
Tom
trauma.
I
know:
you've
been
active
on
the
Vash
program
for
many
years,
helping
veterans
with
with
housing.
Could
you
describe
the
Vash
program
and
what
are
some
of
the
challenges
facing
facing
the
city
of
the
state
of
the
federal
government
or,
more
importantly,
to
a
veteran
that
is
trying
to
access
that
program?
Sure.
H
H
Unfortunately,
and
it's
something
that
I've
seen
over
the
time
I
was
at
at
the
center,
was
people
don't
hear
the
word
veteran
because
we
used
the
word
homeless
first.
But
if
we
were
to
talk
with
a
landlord
and
say
we
have
a
veteran
who's
been
formerly
homeless
and
he
has
an
opportunity
now
or
she
has
an
opportunity
now
to
turn
their
life
around
and
get
back
to
the
community
as
a
productive
citizen.
H
I
think
that
goes
a
long
way
for
that
individual,
hopefully
getting
a
place
to
live,
but
unfortunately,
homeless
veteran
seems
to
connect
in
so
many
ways,
because
it
it
tends
to
bring
in
money
if
you're,
a
non-profit
and
in
for
me,
I
always
try
to
change
that
dynamic
when
I
was
at
the
center
to
get
people
to
talk
about.
These
are
veteran
see
the
men
and
women
who
served
their
country
and
unfortunately
find
themselves
in
this
situation.
H
So
the
education,
if
we,
if
you
will
of
landlords,
to
understand
a
little
bit
more
about
what
this
Vash
program,
is
how
it's
helping
the
individual
and,
unlike
a
section-8,
this
certificate
comes
with
the
with
with
some
case
management,
so
the
individual
isn't
just
placed
in
a
community
put
in
a
situation
of
being
potentially
failing,
but
rather
with
the
support
systems
around
him
or
her
and,
having
case
management
of
a
case
manager.
The
likelihood
of
that
individual
being
successful
becomes
very
high.
A
Term
as
a
follow-up
to
this
commission
is
sterling
one
of
her
comments.
You
work
closely
with
the
mayor
on
brighton
marine
mass
housing.
It's
an
excellent
excellent
development
plan,
excellent
housing
opportunities.
I
know
when
development
was
also
part
of
it.
Do
you
think
this
opportunity
to
build
more
housing
like
that
across
Boston,
using
public-private
partnerships
in
having
a
having
a
great
location
such
as
that,
but
having
several
of
these
locations
throughout
Boston
I
the
opportunity
to
visit
Brighton
marine?
It's
excellent
and
I'd
love
to
see
more
of
that
type
of
housing
built.
You.
H
Know,
actually,
you
know
I
think
this
would
be
a
model
for
the
city
to
look
at.
You
know.
Full
disclosure,
be
you
know
a
board
member
bright
marine
and
also
being
an
employee
at
mass
housing.
I
had
to
kind
walk
that
fine
I'm,
making
sure
that
I
separated
myself
from
certain
aspects
of
that
project,
but
it's
one
that,
as
a
board
member
of
bright
marine
I,
am
so
proud
of.
H
Ceo
board,
taking
that
step
to
create
and
build
veterans
housing.
We
haven't
built
veterans
housing
in
this
city
in
this
Commonwealth,
since
World
War,
two
many
of
the
public
housing
developments
would
were
built
for
the
returning
veteran,
so
the
bright
marine
project
is
one
that
I
think
the
city
can
and
should.
Look
at
is
how
you
bring
bring
the
public-private
partnership
to
the
table
and
started
looking
at
space
that
may
be
available
to
actually
create
real
veterans
housing
where
you
have
veterans
who
will
be
living
it
that
may
have
a
Bosch
certificate.
H
A
F
B
Know,
thank
you
very
much
and
my
question
is
pretty
pretty
short
and
sweet
a
lot
of
it.
I
coach
football
for
a
long
long
time.
So
a
lot
of
the
young
men
that
I've
coached
have
entered
the
into
the
military
service,
and
now
a
lot
of
them
are
coming
back.
What
is
your
best
advice
as
far
as
as
far
as
banking?
H
Working
at
mass
housing,
it's
a
good
good
opportunity
to
plug
the
agency.
We
have
a
great
homeownership
program
where
we
insist
on
first-time
homebuyers
get
home
that
get
homebuyer
education
and
we
also
interesting
enough
have
a
great
program
for
veterans
operation.
Welcome
home,
it's
it's
a
program
that
we
partner
with
the
agent
nut
agencies,
but
the
banks
and
credit
unions
throughout
the
Commonwealth,
where
we
provide
downpayment
assistance
and
we
provide
what
I
think
is
probably
the
most
unique
part
of
our
operation.
Welcome
home.
H
We
provide
insurance
that
if
the
veteran
is
called
to
active
duty,
you
know
if
the
veteran
loses
their
job
will
pay
their
principal
in
interest
for
six
months.
For
me,
when
we
created
this
program,
I
saw
a
firsthand
and
heard
firsthand
veterans
who
were
called
up
me.
The
National,
Guard
or
reserved
who
maybe
their
company,
didn't
make
up
the
difference
between
the
military
pay
and
in
the
pay
they
were
getting
and
we're
leaving
not
knowing
what
the
homefront
was
going
to
be
like
in
terms
of
it.
H
You
know
paying
for
that
mortgage,
so
we
created
at
mass
housing,
dis
safety
net
that
we
would
put
in
place
mi+
in
insurance.
That
would
insure
that
men
and
women
who
were
going
off
didn't
have
to
worry
about
their
homes.
While
there
were
way
in
yet
at
the
same
time,
veterans
coming
home,
who
were
working
in
may
may
have
lost
their
job
because
of
a
shutdown
or
whatever
it
may
be.
We
would
cover
them
for
this
six
months
as
well,
so
mass
housing
has
some
great
programs.
B
Certainly
send
him
that
way
is
there?
Is
there
a
weight
that
we
know
when
Boston
residents
come
back
as
this
is
something
that's
triggered
or
is
it
just
kind
of
because
Italy,
you
know
your
example
earlier
was
perfect?
Think
people
needed
to
be
reminded?
It's
it's
a
great
quote.
Is
there
a
way
that
that
trigger
so
when
he
does
get
back
and
comes
back
to
hi
Park?
Is
it?
Is
there
something
that
says
alright
he's
out
he's
a
Boston
resident?
Getting
this
information
sure.
F
J
H
D
Thank
You
mr.
chair
I've,
just
a
couple
of
quick
questions:
I'm
going
to
go
through
there's
a
very
terrific,
comprehensive
overview
and
I
was
glad
commissioned.
He
began
talking
about
the
fastest
growing
network,
our
female
veterans.
A
couple
years
ago,
our
dear
friend
and
my
new
JP
constituent,
whom
we
stole
from
South
Boston,
Coleman,
II
and
I,
did
a
great
event
at
the
Lauren
greenhouse
for
Veterans
Day
for
returning
female
veterans
and
service
women,
and
it
was
really
well
attended
in
worthwhile
I.
D
Think
I,
don't
know
this
definitively,
but
I
would
have
to
venture
guess
that
I
probably
represent
the
only
city
council
district
in
America
that
has
two
VA
hospitals
and
I've
been
proud
to
work
closely
with
our
incredible
staff
at
both
Jamaica
Plain
and
West
Roxbury
Commission.
When
we
were
last
at
the
West
Roxbury
VA,
we
were
there
with
Elizabeth
Dole
for
the
announcement
of
the
hidden
heroes
campaign
that
Boston
has
been
shows,
and
so
can
you
talk
a
little
bit
about
that
great
program.
Any
of
you
that
want
to
maybe
are
familiar
with
it.
D
F
I
think
we
were
very
we're
very
fortunate
to
have
such
great
medical
facilities
for
our
veterans
here
in
Boston
and
the
partnership.
They
came
up
to
really
highlight
not
just
our
veterans,
but
our
caregivers
is
extremely
important
too.
So,
when
the
opportunity
to
camp
came
up
to
have
the
become
a
hidden
heroes
city,
we
definitely
embrace
that
and
I
think
it's
something
that
will
definitely
flagged
our
efforts
to
continue
to
support
our
families
and
caregivers
as
well
and
yeah.
There's
I
think
we
have
I
know.
I
can't
speak
specifically
to
some
of
the.
F
Other
programs
around
that
but
I
know
we
have
Carolyn
Mason
wholly
from
the
VA
who
we
were
just
talking
earlier
about
earlier
about
the
fantastic
women
veterans.
Services
in
JP,
especially
they've,
done
a
phenomenal
job
in
building
out
that
program,
I'm
personally,
a
user
as
well
and
have
run
into
women
who
have
come
on
through
across
the
country
just
to
go
to
the
Jaypee
VA,
because
it
is
a
5-star
facility.
So
we're
very
fortunate
to
have
that
here
in
Boston.
L
G
D
G
D
M
D
H
There's
been
many
job
fairs
being
held
both
at
the
city
or
state
level
and
in
even
in
nonprofit
world
I.
Think.
Where
and
and
I
say,
this
I
don't
know
100
percent
but
I
think
sometimes
when
these
job
fairs
are
done,
they're
done,
because
people
feel
good
that
they're
having
a
job
fair
but
I'm,
how
many
jobs
are
actually
you
being
a
made
available?
City
I
met
a
woman.
That's
what
you
know,
I
kind
of
get
a
rub
against
it
is.
Is
that
yeah?
It
feels
good.
H
We
all
feel
good
when
we're
trying
to
do
something.
But
if
you're
going
to
come
to
the
table
come
to
the
table
with
something
you
know
come
to
the
table,
saying
we
have
these
many
openings
and
we're
looking
for
and
and
then
I
think
you'll
see
the
real
success
of
the
job
fairs.
Again,
we
all
want
to
feel
good.
D
Couldn't
agree
with
you
more,
and
maybe
that
could
be
an
opportunity,
mr.
chair,
through
your
leadership
of
having
a
specific
city
and
state
and
County
sort
of
public
sector
job
fear
where
we
could
actually
be
able
to
record
that
data,
how
many
jobs
are
offered,
how
many
applications
come
and
make
sure
that
we
don't
limit
it
only
to
public
safety.
So.
H
You
know
she
doesn't,
you
know,
I
can
say
as
a
Marine,
you
know
not.
Everybody
in
the
Marine
Corps
is
a
trigger
phone.
Now
that
we
do
have
men
and
women
that
have
worked
on.
You
know
in
in
mechanics
and
worked
in
in
in
computers
in
and
have
worked
in
the
various
field
that
it
takes
to
make
any
organization
great.
So
so
there
are
very
some
very
telling
in
qualified
people
coming
home
of
all
of
our
military
services.
Okay,
good
well,
thank.
D
E
F
I
feel
like
that
number
is
varying
because
they
they
are
having
a
membership
challenge
that
where
we
interact
with
every
year,
we
go
out
and
do
our
flag
placement
for
Memorial
Day
and
in
the
past,
we've
relied
heavily
on
our
VFW
and
American
Legion
Posts.
To
assist
us
in
that
work
because
they
are
a
lot
of
their
membership
is
aging,
it's
difficult
for
them
to
do
that
work.
F
So
we
are
pulling
in
the
JROTC
units
and
getting
the
youth
involved
there
as
well,
but
there
are
still
posts
that
are
active,
I
can
think
of
1018
VFW
police
posts
and
the
Carter
posts
as
well,
and
bringing
some
awareness
to
some
of
the
needs
that
they're
there
looking
at
as
well.
So
I
can't
speak
exactly
to
the
exact
number
at
this
point,
I
think
less.
E
Than
20,
okay,
all
right-
and
you
know
one
of
the
reasons
I
mean
to
your
point.
So
this
is
my
next
question
is
about
what
we're
doing
to
foster
that
intergenerational
community
building
I've
heard
from
a
number
of
younger
vets
that
they
don't
support
the
post
because
it
sometimes
they
feel
unwelcome
or
they
just
don't
feel
that
there's
I
just
think
they
would
they
would
they
want
to.
So
how
can
we
foster
that
that
intergenerational
community
building
and
make
sure
we're
meeting
the
unique
needs
of
our
younger
veterans
as
well
I?
Think.
H
That's
a
great
question:
counselor:
it's
one
that
as
a
Vietnam
veteran
I
struggled
with
when
when
I
came
home
and
was
somewhat
reluctant
to
join
the
VFW
of
the
Legion,
whatever
post
it
may
be,
and
it's
one
I
think
the
question
you
know:
I
think
it.
It
speaks
to
how
the
organization's
have
to
change.
I.
Think
you
know
and
and
again
I
can
say
this
because
I'm
old
enough
and
and
have
seen
enough
that
we
have
to
start
having
programs
that
will
then
be
of
interest
for
the
younger
veterans
to
join
no
longer.
H
Is
it
a
place
to
go
and
have
a
cheap
beer
and
have
a
cigarette
and
sit
in
tell
war
stories?
I
mean
those
are
bygone
and
I
think
what
the
traditional
organizations
have
to
do
is
really
think
about.
How
do
we?
You
know
how
do
we
change
and
change
in
a
way
that
encourages
these
young
men
and
women
to
join
and
to
keep
these
post
viable?
So
yeah
I
think
it's
a
culture
change
within
the
organization
itself,
I
think
many
of
the
post.
H
Now
the
I
think
the
Vietnam
guys,
maybe
the
majority
of
the
people
there
in
many
of
the
Vietnam
guys,
know
the
struggles
we
had
when
we
try
to
join
some
of
these
posts
and
were
hit
with
this
feed.
The
typical
you
know,
stereotypes
that
were
placed
on
us
as
returning
veterans,
so
I
think
you
know
I
think
it's
a
challenge
that
the
traditional
organizations
really
have
to
struggle
with
and
take
on.
So.
E
E
But
Commissioner
so
to
that
end,
our
veterans
at
the
table
when
it
comes
to
the
developing
of
programming
and
how
can
we
make
sure
that
is
there
an
advisory
council?
How
are
they
appointed
are
selected
to
that?
How
long
do
they
serve
on
it?
Do
they
make
recommendations
in
our
report?
Is
that
intergenerationally,
diverse,
racially
sexual
orientation
so.
F
Aside
from
the
traditional
posts,
I
think
a
lot
of
the
returning
veterans,
especially
from
Iraq
and
Afghanistan,
have
developed
new
programs
that
kind
of
call
to
the
needs
that
they're
looking
for
so
they're
they're
looking
to
be
physically
active.
So
they
have
there's
an
organization
called
team,
red,
white
and
blue,
so
primarily
some
of
our
younger
generation
coming
back
or
they're
very
mission,
oriented
orientated.
F
You
know
capitalizing
on
the
skills
that
they
skillset,
that
they've
had
in
the
military
now
they're
taking
that
into
the
communities
with
organizations
such
as
the
Mission
Continues.
So
while
there
are
several
of
these
different
organizations,
we
do
have
a
collaborative
that
does
get
together
and
kind
of
talk
about
the
challenges
surrounding
these
organizations
and
been
figuring
out
how
we're
filling
those
gaps.
E
And
just
one
more
thing,
I'll
wrap
here
so
also
so
just
very
quickly
at
the
statement,
I
just
wanted
to
encourage
us
to
if
we're
not
already
intentionally,
to
engage
the
arts
community.
You
know
it's
I,
think
it's
a
a
very
accessible
way
for
folks
to
build
community
to
get
the
healing
that
they
need.
Not
even
you
know,
oftentimes
even
aware,
it's
not,
as
obvious
says,
go
to
a
counselor,
but
just
to
be
participating
in
events
relative
to
arts
and
culture.
E
So
if
that's,
not
a
partnership
that
we
already
have
I
would
just
encourage
that,
whether
it's
concerts
or
maybe
the
museum
gives
a
discount
if
you're
a
veteran
for
a
specific
day,
you
can
bring
your
family.
Something
like
that.
The
last
thing
is
on
the
professional
pathways,
just
picking
up
on
the
line
of
questioning
for
my
colleague
and
friend,
councillor
O'malley
and
I,
didn't
hear
all
of
the
answer.
E
Excuse
me
because
I
was
taking
copious
notes
on
something
else,
but
what
do
we
see
is
the
most
viable
pathways
outside
of
public
safety
for
returning
veterans,
you
know:
are
there
industries
that
are
dominated
by
them?
That
are
also
our
most
reliable
industries
here.
So
you
know
health
care
or
you
know,
perhaps
being
an
engineer,
you
know
what
could
we
do
to
strengthen
those
pathways
or
you
know,
sort
of
you
know,
I,
don't
know
earmarking
a
certain
percentage
of
jobs
or
something
as
we
are
considering
for
other
groups.
But
what
can
I
think
one.
H
E
H
And
I
think
it's
again,
it's
a
informational
kind
of
a
process
that
I
think
has
to
happen
in
people
need
to
kind
of
recognize
that
there
is
a
learning
process
to
that.
The
flip
side
of
that
would
be
for
the
young
men
when
coming
home,
how
to
sell
themselves
how
to
talk
about
their
experience,
whether
it
was
being
a
squad
leader
and
taking
care
of
data,
ten
men
and
in
what
was
what
that
leadership
skill
entailed.
H
C
I
You,
my
colleagues,
have
had
great
questions,
so
I've
learned
so
much
already.
I
just
had
one
sort
of
set
or
topic
pushing
more
on
the
intergenerational
intergenerational
line.
We've
heard
a
lot
about
various
generations
within
the
veterans
and
military
families
community
and
all
the
resources
available.
I
We
want
to
keep
expanding
opportunities
for
returning
veterans,
so
just
thinking
about
what
are
the
ways
in
which
our
veterans,
who
are
role
models
are
interacting
with
our
young
people,
either
in
in
schools
or
elsewhere
in
the
community,
to
make
sure
that
our
school-aged
kids
are
getting
exposure
to
these
role
models.
Learning
about
the
opportunities
at
this
type
that
this
pathway
might
open
up
for
them
down
the
line
as
we
are
continuing
to
strengthen
those
pathways
and
make
sure
there
are.
There
are
more
and
more
opportunities,
sure.
F
Hero
square
programs,
so
we
have
about
1200
hero
squares
within
the
city
of
Boston
and
we
are
adding
a
plaque
to
each
of
them.
So
it's
not
just
the
name
now
you're
getting
the
story
behind
that
person
and
the
neighborhood
that
they
came
from
and
impacted
through
the
summer
we're
having
our
summer
internships.
Actually
come.
Interns
come
on
in
and
help
us
develop
those
biographies
so
they're
getting
an
understanding
of
the
heroes
that
are
within
the
neighborhoods
and
the
ones
that
are
part
of
the
history
of
Boston
as
well.
Will.
F
I
H
I
can
make
a
reef
recommendation.
I
would
oh
I
will
I
would
also
say:
Boston
is
so
unique
in
in
ways
of
how
each
community
recognizes
service
and
sacrifice
by
the
men
and
women
who
grew
up
in
that
community
in
we
have
memorials
really
that
dot
the
landscape
of
this
city,
and
you
know
it
would
be
my
thought
that
maybe
some
some
schools
that
are
close
by
where
there's
a
memorial
should
have
a
day
when
one
or
two
classes
go
to
that
memorial.
H
I
C
A
H
We've
gone
back
and
saluted
the
men
and
women
who
served
and
during
that
timeframe,
and
it
was
a
commitment
we
we
made
back
in
1981
and
it's
one
that
as
I
said,
I'm
extremely
proud
of
that
we
we
continued
to
do
it
for
the
37th
time
on
Sunday
September
9th
in
this
year,
we're
dedicating
our
day
to
the
Senator
John
McCain,
who
we
all
know
just
passed.
But
you
know
I
think
as
a
Vietnam
veteran
and
someone
from
that
generation.
H
It's
important
that
we
continue
to
remember
the
men
like
John
McCain
that
have
come
home
and
serve
this
country
and
continue
to
serve
long
after
his
time
in
the
military.
So
we'll
we'll
have
a
ceremony
at
11:30,
a
Medal
of
Honor,
Park
and
and
once
again,
we'll
remember
in
pay
respects
to
our
friends.
Thank.
A
You
Tom
and
thank
you
to
the
Commissioner
thank
you
to
the
Deputy
Commissioner
I
was
an
honored
to
have
all
three
of
you
here
to
testify.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
service
to
our
city,
to
our
veterans,
to
our
military
families
and
proud
to
work
with
all
three
of
you,
so
I
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
for
your
time
today,
but
more
importantly,
for
what
you
do
for
our
veterans
across
the
city.
A
N
O
P
L
Homebase,
a
Red
Sox
foundation
and
Massachusetts
General
Hospital
program
works
to
kill
the
invisible
wounds
of
war
for
veterans,
service
members
and
their
families.
Invisible
wounds
such
as
post-traumatic
stress,
traumatic,
brain
injury,
co-occurring,
substance,
use
disorders,
anxiety
and
depression.
Home
base
offers
treatment
in
their
Boston
based
clinic
for
invisible
wounds,
including
couples,
therapy
support
groups
and
education.
L
Q
S
S
I
came
to
home
base
and
I
talked
about
those
things
in
that
box
that
I
had
stuff.
So
deep
down
that
were
torturing
me,
I'd
lost
all
emotions
related
to
my
trauma,
but
slowly.
The
home
base
got
me
to
feel
again.
Home
base
is
my
second
family
because
they
took
a
broken
man
who
didn't
want
to
live
and
treated,
not
only
my
PTSD,
but
my
entire
body
world-class.
L
A
I
the
opportunity
to
visit
to
attend
the
home
based
program
recently
at
Fenway
Park
did
a
run
run
to
home
base.
The
Mayor
was
there
mayor,
Walsh
and
governor
Baker
was
there
as
well
but
I'm,
looking
forward
to
the
opening
in
Charlestown,
but
I
do
know
that
home
base
is
doing
some
excellent,
excellent
work
across
across
the
estate.
So
we
just
want
to
say
thank
you
for
all
that
you
guys
are
doing.
Thank.
N
You,
mr.
chairman,
we
are
pretty
proud
of
our
program
and
we
are
a
national
program
now
for
last
two
years
taking
service
members
from
all
over
the
country
and
their
families.
That's
why
we're
gonna
be
able
to
double
our
care
now
when
we
get
to
Charlestown
so
great
resource
for
our
local
veterans
as
well.
We
have
that
outpatient
clinic
will
be
also
in
Charlestown.
A
Perfect
Jessie
Flynn
member
of
the
DAV
here
in
Boston
also
a
also
a
Boston
firefighter
good,
a
good
friend
we're
very
proud
of.
What's
what's
the
latest
that
the
DAV
is
seeing
of
returning
veterans
what's
the
biggest
issue,
but
also
what
are
you
seeing
from
some
of
the
older
veterans
that
are
disabled?
How
are
they
accessing
their
VA
care?
What
are
some
of
the
challenges?
What
are
you
seeing
in
that
regard
so.
T
T
Our
national
service
office
office
and
the
JFK
building
serves.
You
know
hundreds
of
veterans
a
year,
I
think
and
I
have
a
couple
numbers
here
from
2016,
but
the
numbers
you
know
haven't,
dropped
or
increased
in
any
significant
amount,
but
in
2016
they
represented
four
thousand
nine
hundred
eighty-two
Massachusetts
veterans
before
the
Veterans
Administration
for
disability
compensation
and
they
obtained
over
87
million
in
retroactive
compensation
payments.
So
they
do
a
great
job
up
there
and
sometimes
that's
the
first
step
to
get
guys.
T
You
know
involved
in
the
VA
health
care
system
so
that
not
only
are
they
getting
that
disability
rating
compensation,
but
they
start
getting
treatment
at
our
VA
facilities
and
with
the
older
generation,
the
Vietnam,
the
Korean
War
veterans,
World
War,
two
veterans
that
we
still
have
with
us.
The
Korean,
War
veterans
and
Vietnam
veterans
transportation.
To
and
from
medical
appointments
is
a
big
issue.
That's
our
probably
our
biggest
program
within
the
department
of
Massachusetts
is
we
provide
free
of
charge,
transportation
to
and
from
VA
medical
facilities
for
healthcare
treatment
by
appointment.
T
We've
purchased
over
65
vans,
since
1987
logged
over
10
million
miles
in
the
state,
transporting
veterans
to
and
from
those
medical
appointments,
and
that's
something
that
we're
always
trying
to
fund
and
keep
going
in.
In
Boston
we
have
transportation
programs
at
both
the
Jamaica
Plain
and
West
Roxbury
hospitals.
So
thank.
A
U
V
You
Kevin
Thank
You
mr.
chairman
I'm,
Bob,
notch
I'm
with
bright
marine
I'm.
The
program
development
officer
there
and
I
do
have
a
bit
of
an
opening
statement
if
I
join
into
okay.
Since
the
early
80s
bright
marine
has
been
a
trusted
and
quiet
partner
in
the
service
of
uniformed
service
members
veterans
and
their
families.
The
support
primarily
focused
on
long-standing
partnership
with
the
u.s.
V
V
In
this
region,
residences
at
bright
marine,
which
we
talked
about
briefly
earlier,
which
is
under
construction
right
now,
in
partnership
with
wind
companies
to
provide
a
hundred
and
two
units
of
affordable
housing
with
veterans
preference
resources
at
Bright
marine,
our
goal
is
to
be
a
first
stop
of
physical
hub
of
multiple
service
providers
for
military
veterans
and
their
families.
The
Greater
Boston
coordinated,
Veterans
Services,
already
established
it's
a
virtual
network
of
coordinated
care
providers
serving
military
veterans
and
their
families,
creating
no
wrong
door
for
veterans
and
a
warm
handoff
between
service
providers.
V
V
Scholarship
was
which
is
five
thousand
dollars
of
scholarship
funds
awarded
to
a
senior
in
Junior
ROTC,
who
is
graduating
one
of
the
Boston
Public
Schools
I'm,
also
co-chair
of
the
Greater
Boston
veterans
collaborative
and
commissioner
Stirling
mentioned
that
organization
earlier,
an
organization
of
over
200
public,
private
corporate
and
nonprofit
providers
that
are
all
serving
veterans
in
the
community
and
we're
continuing
to
grow
that
network
and
find
ways
to
fill
the
gaps
that
we
identify
and
reduce
some
of
the
redundancies.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
Bob.
W
W
Councillor
Flynn
council
McCarthy
appreciate
you
having
me
here.
My
name
is
Daniel
Brennan,
director
of
special
populations,
programs
and
services
at
Department,
veteran
services,
I
oversee
you
know,
a
unique
program
called
save
stands
with
statewide
advocacy
for
veterans
empowerment.
It
was
launched
in
2008
it's
a
collaboration
between
Department
of
Public,
Health
and
Department
of
Veteran
services.
This
was
resulted
in
an
interagency
collaboration
that
includes
funding
program,
management,
resources
and
clinical
support.
W
The
safe
team
also
receives
funding
from
Massachusetts
Department
of
Mental
Health
and
the
trial
court
massachusett
report
to
provide
peer
support
for
our
veterans
in
the
Commonwealth,
who
are
struggling
with
assistant,
struggling
with
issues
regarding
the
judicial
system
and
and
accessing
help.
That
way
we
do
proactive
outreach
in
the
community.
It
saves
mission,
providing
awareness
and
suicide
prevention,
mental
health
awareness,
advocacy
for
veterans,
benefits
and
services.
Our
top
priority
for
save
Irish
corneas
are
completely
mobile
and
can
meet
with
our
veterans
in
the
community.
W
The
goal
is
to
empower
our
veterans
to
navigate
the
system
of
benefits
and
services
to
them
and
their
families.
Everyone
on
the
team.
They
are
mobile,
they
all
are
outfitted
with
the
equipment
they
need.
They
meet
with
veterans
of
the
community,
local
Dunkin
Donuts
at
their
house
and
help
access
their
with
services.
The
safe
team
is
comprised
of
veterans
and
family
members.
W
We
also
have
we
have
our
peers
broken
out
by
county,
so
every
regional
area
has
an
outreach
coordinator
that
will
be
out
the
community
be
at
the
local
events,
resources
whatever
it
may
be,
and
help
them
connect
to
services.
We
also
have
a
family
outreach
coordinator.
She
works
with
all
our
family
members.
She
helps
connect
down
to
services,
family
support
groups,
that
sort
of
thing
also,
because
the
team
are
peers
and
not
clinicians
or
doctors,
and
we
are
suicide
prevention
programs.
So
we
deal
with
a
lot
of
high-risk.
W
So
the
safe
team
works
with
all
generations
of
veterans,
with
a
special
emphasis
placed
on
recently
returning
veterans
from
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
veterans
are
assessed
for
mental
health
issues,
including
post-traumatic
stress,
suicide,
ideation,
traumatic,
brain
injury
and
sub-sub
use.
Sav
outreach
coordinators
create
an
individual
action
plan
to
help
the
veteran
address
and
resolve
key
issues
that
prevent
the
veterans
post-traumatic
growth.
From
this
assessment,
the
veterans
referred
to
the
appropriate
service
provider
based
upon
the
veterans,
needs
a
lot
of
times.
These
veterans
are
sent
to
local
VSOs,
for
instance,
which
every
city
town
has
one.
W
W
Some
of
the
collaborations
we've
done
over
the
years
we've
we
helped
with
the
smoking
cessation
program
for
veterans
and
Families,
resulting
in
4,000
veterans
and
Families
members,
taking
their
first
steps
to
quit
smoking.
We
worked
closely
with
the
BAS
Bureau
subs
abuse
services,
subs
abuse,
prevention
for
veterans
and
military
families.
We
do
a
lot
of
presentations
trainings
that
sort
of
thing
with
them.
W
Since
february
of
2008
to
February
2017
we've
reached
to
over
30,000
veterans,
5,000
of
those
veterans
or
over
5,000
veterans,
received
Lincoln
referral
services
over
2,000
of
those
veterans
receive
direct
case
management
from
one
of
our
staff.
We
supported
Boston
Public,
Health,
Commission
mobile
vet
centers.
After
the
Boston
Marathon's
bombings.
We
were
down
at
Ground
Zero
and
offering
assistance
to
the
community
over
there.
W
We've
increased
collaboration
in
jail,
diversion
veteran's
treatment,
Court
programs
to
assist
with
the
opening
of
the
five
veteran's
treatment
courts.
We
have
appear
in
every
single
one
of
those
accessing
helping
the
veterans
and
those
in
those
programs.
We
also
provide
a
battlemind
training
to
first
responders
college
staff,
community
providers,
HR
professionals,
medical
schools,
clerkship
judges
and
probation
departments,
which
is
training
for
kind
of
like
a
military
culture,
awareness
type
training,
as
well
as
we
collaborate
with
all
the
various
state,
federal
local
agencies,
to
better
connect
these
veterans
with
the
resources.
W
The
one
last
thing,
I'll
add
is
we
we
work
with
all
eras.
We
work
with
all
discharge
types,
obviously,
depending
on
the
veterans
circumstances
they
might
be
eligible,
they
might
not
be
eligible
for
certain
benefits.
It's
our
job
to
navigate
that
system
and
connect
them
and
plug
them
into
the
right
resources
that
they
they
would
be
eligible
for,
and
that
that's
just
want
to.
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
hearing
me
out
on
our
program
veteran
services.
Thank
you.
No.
A
X
Afternoon
sir
I'm
Steve
croteau
with
the
office
of
the
state
treasurer
of
Veterans
Bonus
Program.
What
the
veteran's
bonus
program
is
it's
a
bonus
program
from
the
state
of
Massachusetts
that
Awards
bonuses
to
servicemembers
that
originally
from
Massachusetts
that
served
there
in
certain
wartime
periods,
those
those
wartime
periods,
our
World
War,
1,
World,
War,
two
Korean
War
Vietnam
conflict,
Persian,
Gulf
and
currently
the
Global
War
on
Terrorism
September,
4,
September,
11
2001
to
present
the
old
awards,
the
World
War
1
World
War,
two
Korean
War.
X
X
Seeing
how
most
of
them
get
it
when
they're
discharged
now
the
current
bonus,
the
Global
War
on
Terrorism
bonus,
that's
for
service
September,
11
2001
to
present
the
$500
for
six
months,
stateside
or
active
stateside
or
overseas
$1,000.
If
the
member
was
deployed
to
an
imminent
danger
location
used
to
be
just
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
in
2017,
we
were
able
to
amend
the
law
to
include
all
imminent
danger
locations
$250.
If
the
person
went
to
a
subsequent
deployment
overseas,
not
imminent
danger
and
$500.
X
If
the
person
deployed
a
second
time
to
endanger
location,
we
just
recently
awarded
a
check
for
five
thousand
five
hundred
dollars
to
a
Army
veteran
who
retired
he
was
in
Iraq
Afghanistan
about
seven
times
every
other
six
months
he
was
going
there,
so
we
were.
We
were
proud
to
be
able
to
welcome
that
service
member
at
home.
So
thanks
again
for
allowing
me
to
come
here,
our
biggest
way
to
get
the
word
out
is
from
word-of-mouth.
X
Y
Afternoon,
mr.
chairman,
thank
you
for
inviting
me
here.
My
name
is
Bill
Lobo
in
the
state
adjutant
to
the
Veterans
of
Foreign
Wars
in
Massachusetts,
I
want
to
speak
a
little
bit
about
where
the
VFW
is
today
versus
where
it's
been
and
I
think
we're
on
a
better
track
now
than
we
have
been
in
a
long
time.
Last
year,
our
state
commander,
Eric
Segundo,
was
the
first
Oh
F
veteran
to
be
heading
up
a
VFW
department.
That
was
right
here
in
Massachusetts.
Y
Our
current
state
commander,
Keith
Jackson,
who
I'm
here
on
behalf
of,
is
also
an
OEF
OIF
veteran
at
the
state
leadership
level.
We
have
one
Vietnam
veteran
three
of
us
at
Gulf,
War
and
the
rest
are
all
ofö
I
have
so
the
VFW
is
getting
younger
in
leadership.
We
also
did
something
remarkable
last
year
as
the
first
time
in
20
years.
Our
organization
grew
in
this
state.
Now
we
have
more
members
today
than
we
did
a
year
ago
at
this
time,
we're
very
proud
of
that.
We're
gonna
be
working
on
that
going
forward.
Y
The
goal
is
to
continually
increase,
because,
right
now
we
have
80,000
eligible
VFW
veterans.
In
the
state-
and
we
have
22,000
members
the
thing
with
the
VFW,
they
have
to
have
been
in
him
in
a
danger
or
get
a
campaign
medal
and
our
organization
is
it
gonna
change
anytime
soon.
That
said,
we
know
that
there's
a
problem
with
post.
We
have
the
local
post
issue,
which
is
the
younger
veterans
they
hear
from
the
older
veterans.
Well,
it's
just
a
bar.
It's
a
place
to
hang
out.
Y
Unfortunately,
we
even
heard
that
here
today
I'm
here
to
push
back
on
that
message.
We
are
aggressively
going
into
our
posts.
We
are
a
chartered,
a
congressionally
chartered
organization
and,
as
such,
we're
required
to
do
certain
things,
which
is
to
help
fellow
veterans
and
to
be
patriotic
and
do
things
in
the
community
and
if
a
post
isn't
doing
that
and
they're
putting
a
bar
first
in
the
post.
Second,
we're
shutting
the
post
down
or
fixing
the
problem.
Y
We've
done
that
in
and
around
Boston
right
now
we
have
approximately
20
active
posts
in
and
around
Boston,
but
the
ones
that
are
here
now
today
are
much
healthier
than
they
have
been
in
for
many
many
years.
How
do
we
mean
by
healthy
well
right
now
we
reorganized
our
state
service
office,
which
is
similar
to
what
the
DAV
has.
It's
not
the
same
thing
just
on
a
smaller
scale,
but
that
smaller
scale
office
based
right
into
JFK
building
and
across
the
state
with
US
state
service
officers.
Y
We've
now
secured
14
million
dollars
in
benefits
to
disabled
veterans,
just
since
January,
approximately
20%
of
that
is
to
Boston
area
veterans.
Our
mission,
our
goal
right
now
for
boss,
is
to
bring
the
veterans
that
were
part
of
those
posts
that
we've
had
to
shut
down
over
the
last
10
years
back
into
the
fold.
Y
Now
one
of
the
things
that
the
VFW,
just
because
a
post
shutdown
doesn't
mean
that
the
members
disappear
they're
still
on
our
at-large
roles,
they
still
get
in
the
magazine
to
still
lend
money
and
their
life
members
and
my
life
members
for
life,
so
we're
working
on.
Where
do
we
bring
them?
Do
we
have
posts?
We
have
a
lot
of
posts
that
don't
even
have
a
building
they
meet
in
a
different
building,
but
they're
still
doing
the
things
that
fulfill
their
charter.
But
we
have
added
a
new
post.
Y
One
of
them
was
right
here
in
Boston
we
added
a
post
last
year,
the
Northeastern
University
post,
which
is
a
brand
new
VFW
post,
made
up
mostly
of
oef/oif,
but
many
Vietnam
veterans.
Now,
unaware
of
it,
are
coming
into
the
fold
through
our
outreach
programs
that
we're
doing
we're
looking
at
organizations,
many
of
them
sitting
at
this
table.
Y
There's
been
a
lot
of
things
that
have
happened
with
some
of
the
posts,
but
we
have
some
active
posts
down
at
Dorchester
somebody
mentioned
we
have
a
lot
of
veterans
in
Dorchester.
We
do
have
a
post
that
we
just
closed,
but
if
they're
going
to
be
a
bar,
only
then
they're
not
really
a
VFW
post
and
we're
recognizing
that
and
that's
where
some
of
the
problems
lie.
So
my
hope
is
that
people
start
understanding.
Vfw
is
here,
give
us
a
call
I
have
a
handout
that
I
hand
it
to
the
council.
Y
You
can
see
some
of
the
good
works
that
we're
doing
we're
doing
scholarship
drives
across
the
state.
We
weave
there
are
tens
and
tens
of
thousands
of
dollars
in
scholarships
across
the
state
we're
promoting
patriotism
in
our
schools,
a
lot
of
our
posts.
You
know
when
you
see
the
flags
on
the
telephone,
poles
and
the
and
the
squares
are
clean,
and
this
Flags
at
the
cemetery.
A
lot
of
that
is
VFW
members
who
are
doing
that
through
their
posts.
A
lot
of
them
aren't
advertising
it,
but
that's
the
stuff
we're
doing
so.
C
Z
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
David
henkaa
I'm,
the
veteran's
outreach
coordinator
for
VA
Boston
healthcare
and
in
that
role,
I
represent
one
of
the
largest,
if
not
the
largest
federal
employer
in
the
region,
particularly
here
in
the
city
and
as
part
of
the
VA
health
care
system,
in
a
sense
I'm
representing
all
of
our
family,
of
Veterans
Affairs
services
in
the
area.
So,
as
you
know,
the
VA
is
is
kind
of
a
tri
component
or
quad
component
organization.
Z
If
you
consider
the
health
care
organization,
which
is
the
biggest
dog
in
the
block,
we've
got
three
big
health
care,
hospitals
that
service
the
Boston
and
Greater
Boston
area,
five
clinics
etc.
But
you
know
we
work
in
conjunction
and
being
the
largest
employer.
The
health
care
aspect
does
provide
the
biggest
footprint,
but
we
work
closely
in
conjunction
with
our
cousins
there
and
the
Veterans
Benefits
Administration,
the
VBA
right
across
city
hall,
plaza
here
at
the
JFK
building.
Z
Those
are
the
folks
that
are
giving
out
money,
giving
out
funds
to
veterans
payments
in
terms
of
compensation
and
disability
payments,
VA
home
loans,
GI
Bill,
all
those
great
programs
that
give
to
veterans.
So
when
you
think
of
veterans
benefits
and
the
things
that
veterans
are
receiving
monetarily
in
otherwise
that's
come
out
of
the
VBA,
whereas
in
the
healthcare
side
we
represent
this
very
powerful
and
very
well
organized
health
care
system.
That
is
absolutely
tremendous,
but
we're
also.
Z
We
also
work
in
conjunction
with
Veterans
Cemetery
administration
born
cemetary
down
at
the
capers
are
our
footprint
there
and,
and
then
we
work
with
our
the
Boston
VA
Vet
Center,
and
my
folks
is
here
from
the
Vet
Center
had
to
lead
a
little
while
ago,
some,
but
those
make
up
that
the
federal
footprint
for
VA
services.
So
obviously
we
bring
a
lot
to
the
table.
It's
it's
a
great.
What
I
call
a
good
news
story,
we're
serving
about
62,000
veterans
alone,
just
here
in
the
Boston
healthcare
system
each
year.
Z
It's
a
lot
of
folks
coming
in
that's
a
good
news
story
in
the
sense
that
we're
able
to
offer
them
what
we
call
the
best
care
anywhere
wonderful
book
by
that
title
that
talks
about
how
the
VA
is
and
should
be
a
model
for
health
care
in
America
point
is:
is
that
that
the
VA
is
doing
it
right
in
terms
of
medical
care?
We
bring
vets
in
personal
story
in
a
sense.
Z
Is
that
as
a
veteran
I
can
go
to,
I
can
get
an
appointment
with
the
same
doctor
that
I
have
at
Mass
General
Hospital,
for
example,
who
also
spends
time
like
a
lot
of
our
physicians,
duly
appointed
at
a
VA
facility.
I
get
the
same
doctor
I
can
get
the
same
procedure
I'm,
not
paying
any
any
any
prime
of
their
own
new
premiums
at
the
VA
and
I'm,
not
paying
any
these
extra
fees
and
services
charges,
etc.
Z
I'm
getting
exceptionally
quality
care
and
I'm,
getting
it
faster
at
the
VA,
then
I
can
get
it
in
the
commercial
healthcare
agencies.
So
this
is
a
story
I
think
to
just
you
know:
the
press
does
a
wonderful
job
of
holding
folks
accountable
and
the
VA
has
developed
and
responded
to
some
of
these
difficulties
here.
But
by
and
large,
the
VA
has
been
tremendous
and
has
been
a
tremendous
organization
continues
to
lead
the
way
in
healthcare
in
this
country.
Z
We've
got
85
to
90
percent
of
veterans
that
I
speak
to
and
I
speak
to
a
good,
1200
or
1500
that's
a
year
that
are
using
VA
care
and
they
will
tell
you
that
they
either
are
very
satisfied
with
the
a
carrot
or
they
absolutely
love
it.
So
we
have
a
tremendous
carrot
and
this
is
reflected
across
the
country
and
a
lot
of
facilities.
Z
Some
are
challenged
and
there
are
different
things,
but
again
as
the
largest
federal
agency
outside
of
the
Department
of
Defense,
it
does
have
us
challenges,
but
by
and
large
it's
a
tremendous
care
system.
So
part
of
the
good
news
story
is
that
we,
as
we
work
on
our
efforts
at
outreach
and
connecting
with
veterans
and
getting
them
into
care.
Z
We
have
a
great
military,
veteran
family
team,
so
so
I'm
getting
us
together
in
a
setting
like
this,
as
you
can
imagine,
we're
all
part
of
a
network,
it's
almost
like
being
back
in
your
platoon
or
your
squad
or
your
section.
You
know
all
of
us
as
we
as
we
meet.
We
know
each
of
us
has
our
different
jobs.
We
all
add
into
this
effort,
and
so
we,
the
VA,
would
call
it.
Z
You
know
community
engagement,
community,
networking
and
I
like
call
it
one
team,
one
fight
approach,
so
we
we
get
it
done
in
the
sense
that
we're
we
have
been
networked
for
years
and
thankfully,
with
with
the
work
that
Brighton
marines
been
doing
with
the
Greater
Boston
coordinated
vet
services,
it's
clarifying
those
connections
and
making
it
that
much
more
efficient.
So
it's
it's
great
that
they
have
stepped
up
to
the
plate.
To
do
that,
and,
of
course,
in
these
efforts,
we've
any
number
of
ways
of
reaching
out
to
veterans.
Z
But
one
thing
we're
doing
we
mail
to
all
returning
veterans.
We
work
with
the
Department
of
Defense,
so
the
the
VA
is
getting
those
addresses,
etc.
So
any
veteran,
that's
returning
somebody's
coming
off
of
active
duty
return
from
active
duty
will
send
a
letter
out
to
them.
Saying
hey!
Welcome
back.
You
might
have
heard
about
this
when
you
were
leaving
service,
but
now
you're,
coming
back
to
the
hometown.
Here's
your
VA,
where
your
hometown
service
isn't
by
the
way
we've
got
a
lot
of
friends
in
here
the
Department
of
State
Department,
Career
Services.
Z
The
job
fairs,
the
veterans
Expos,
even
the
vet
net
newsletter,
so
mister
Inge,
the
director
of
VA
Boston,
is
has
been
a
big
proponent
of
networking
and
and
this
one
team,
one
fight
approach
that
all
of
us
bring
a
lot
to
the
table
and
none
of
us
can
get
the
job
done
separately
that
we
can
do
together.
So
in
that
regards
I'll,
just
I
kind
of
leave.
My
comments
there,
but
I
did
want
to
mention,
though
some
of
our
challenges,
of
course,
are
getting
veterans
into
the
care
system.
Z
Getting
a
group
of
people
who
may
or
may
not
be
thrilled
about
utilizing
healthcare
etc,
but
getting
to
realize
that
they
need
this
preventive
maintenance
and
military
terms
and
that's
the
way
I
understand
health
care.
So
if
I
look
at
in
terms
of
what
what
the
government
taught
me
about
taking
care
of
equipment
and
people-
and
you
know
you've
got
to
take
care
of
these
preventively
or
you
will
you
know
you
stand
to
gain
much
by
doing
that.
So
we
push
and
we
and
we
work
to
get
veterans
and
take
advantage
of
this.
Z
But
our
challenge
is
one
of
them
is
that
we
are
in
a
hospital,
rich
environment.
There,
any
number
of
facilities
here
in
the
area
in
particularly
in
this
part
of
Massachusetts
in
this
part
of
the
country,
but
getting
veterans
to
realize
that
they
could
save
so
much
that
they
don't
have
these.
They
don't
have
the
premiums
etc,
that
they're
paying
out
that
they
don't
have
to
be
paying
that.
Z
But
the
other
challenges
for
us,
particularly
in
Boston
I,
think,
is
the
income
gap
and
the
income
threshold
that
Congress
imposed
on
the
VA
and
getting
veterans
to
qualify.
So,
for
example,
you
can
only
make
fifty
thousand
or
so
as
a
veteran
in
the
in
the
area
or
you're
not
going
to
be
able
to
if
you're
over
that
amount.
It's
likely.
J
J
Around
nine
per
nine
percent
of
all
veterans
are
female
around
fourteen
percent
of
active
duty
or
FEMA
female,
and
around
18
around
18
percent
of
Reserve
and
National
Guard's.
So
there's
there's
a
large
population
of
women
veterans
that
are
eventually
you
know
it's
according
to
get
larger
because
of
the
higher
numbers
and
higher
percentages
in
the
services.
At
this
time.
J
J
We've
developed
some
very
specialized
programs
for
women
here
at
VA
Boston
and
we're
a
national
referral
site
for
our
acute
psychiatry
wing
down
in
Brockton
our
PTSD
and
substance
abuse
program.
That's
specifically
for
women
down
in
Brockton
campus
trust
house,
which
is
our
transitional
residence,
which
is
in
a
neighborhood
in
Jamaica
Plain,
and
our
women's
trauma
recovery
team,
which
is
an
outpatient
women's
mental
health
program
in
Jamaica
Plain.
J
J
We
looked
at
research
program
recently
that
showed
women
with
the
the
suicide
rate
for
women
who
are
engaged
in
the
VA
over
the
last
10
years,
dropped
about
two
and
a
half
percent,
those
that
don't
use
VA
increased
about
eighty
percent,
so
it's
a
perfect
Ekta
factor
for
them
to
be
participating
in
care,
particularly
mental
health
care.
At
the
VA.
J
As
commissioner
sterling
mentioned
previously
massachusetts,
women
veterans
network
is
one
of
the
strongest
in
the
country.
We
focus
on
connection
community
access
to
care
and
services,
and
that
program
really
helps
to
reach
out
to
women
veterans.
But
as
we
go
forward,
I
think
some
of
the
important
things
that
we
could
ask
for
your
assistance
with
are
recognizing
women
veterans,
as
veterans
continuously
highlighting
our
strong
women
veterans
leaders
such
as
the
Commissioner
reaching
out
to
women,
who
don't
often
don't
identify
as
veterans.
J
Don't
turnout
for
meetings
like
this
and
are
struggling
to
return
to
civilian
life,
being
both
mom
mom,
wife,
caregiver
for
an
elderly,
parent
and
employer
of
employee
or
student,
really
mixed
rules,
and
we
also
really
continue
to
focus
on
housing
for
low
and
lower
middle
income
classes
for
women
veterans,
particularly
those
with
children
or
those
escaping
domestic
violence,
are
elder
vets
and
our
student
vets
very
challenging
populations.
So
I.
Thank
you
for
your
your
time
here.
Thank.
C
AA
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Chris
Dollard
I,
oversee
programs
to
help
veterans
experiencing
homelessness
or
attempting
to
prevent
homelessness.
I
feel
very
fortunate
to
work
for
an
organization
that
views
health
care.
Not
is
just
what
happens
out
in
the
hospital
grounds,
but
in
the
community
really
understanding
the
environment,
to
the
veteran,
ensuring
their
safety,
ensuring
employment
and,
most
importantly,
to
me,
ensuring
housing
so
in
accordance
with
what
David,
Colonel
Hankey
had
shared,
really
appreciate
the
the
team
that
we
have
in
this
room.
AA
Today
we
worked
very
hard
as
part
of
the
homes
for
the
brave
initiative
working
with
Commissioner
sterling
working
with
Sheila
Dillon
and
her
team
at
D
and
E
helping
to
find
housing
for
over
a
thousand
veterans
in
the
last
few
years.
So
it's
really
a
collaborative
effort.
We
do
have
the
opportunity
to
to
oversee
the
HUD
Vash
program.
I
did
want
to
point
out,
as
was
pointed
out
earlier,
some
excellent
models
of
HUD
Vash
housing.
AA
Here
in
the
room,
we've
been
able
to
work
with
New
England
center
and
home
for
veterans
to
establish
35
units
of
project-based
housing,
we're
working
with
bright
marine,
to
establish
25,
additional
units
of
housing.
Above
me
on
the
hundred
and
two
units
of
mixed
income,
housing
they're
creating
so
just
want
to
thank
these
partners
and
just
wanted
to
point
out
that
our
number
one
need
is
the
establishment
of
more
affordable
housing.
AA
There's
more
vouchers
that
we
can
gain
were
section
8
vouchers,
but
without
that
affordable
housing
and
landlords
willing
to
employ
veterans,
house
veterans,
weren't
able
to
utilize
those
vouchers.
I
just
wanted
to
point
out
a
few
other
specialized
services
we
have
for
the.
We
also
participate
with
the
Honorable
Judge
Eleanor
Senate
for
the
veterans
veterans
courts.
AB
AB
AB
We
sit
there,
which
is
trying
to
make
everybody
aware
we're
here,
we're
here
to
help
one
of
our
biggest
problems.
Is
it's
not
didn't
it?
It's
getting
information,
though
our
other
biggest
problem.
We
don't
have
the
ability
to
run
support
groups
in
the
community,
especially
at
night,
because
we
found
that
we
got.
We
can
get
away
from
the
VA
cuz
they're
afraid
that
you're
gonna
take
notes
it's
going
in
your
records,
but
guess
what
it's
not
they
are
not
allowed
in
that
room.
They
give
us
a
room,
they
sponsor
us.
They
help
us.
AB
AB
AB
We
supposed
to
have
a
women's
group
and
KP
right
now
I'm
what
happened
a
very
high
time,
recruiting
volunteers
to
facilitate
these
meetings.
It's
not
always
easy.
Getting
somebody
sit
up
and
actually
realize
when
you're
animating
there
is
no
VA
employees
in
the
room.
You
run
to
the
point
where
what
it
said
this
stays
there
I
don't
care
what
anybody
else
says:
you're
not
come
in
my
room
as
an
employee
period,
I
get
to
listen
like
we
get
them
open
up.
AB
AB
I've
talked
to
quite
a
few
transgender
people
in
the
area,
they're
afraid
that
if
they
come
to
VA
and
come
out
of
the
closet,
they're
going
to
be
stigmatized
and
chastised,
which
is
not
true,
the
VA
has
a
wonderful
treatment
program
for
the
transgender,
not
just
the
transgender
LGBT
period.
Okay
Mike
here
has
been
excellent.
AB
AB
now
directors
have
given
this
a
room
right
in
building
3,
so
we're
going
to
be
there
after
hours.
That's
that
first
after-hours
group
period
we're
here
we're
trying
to
help.
We
just
want
to
be
let
everybody
know
we
can
help
because
of
women.
There
we've
done
that,
and
one
of
our
models
is
each
one
teach
one
wait:
I
can
keep
on
getting
that
screw
it
up.
AB
AB
AB
AB
Have
to
give
the
Commissioner
my
thanks,
because
I
have
never
seen
a
city
or
town
do
something
like
that
in
years,
I
am
a
Vietnam
era,
veteran
never
served
in
kampala.
Combat!
No!
Is
that
the
tail
in
when
he
didn't
matter,
you
military,
you
would
chastise
by
all
us
all
the
civilians,
but
we
make
it
through
and
what
people
we
reach
the
more
people
who
can
help
and
in
turn,
helping
the
VA
treats
them
to
treat
that
person
even
more
even
better
I,
can't
really
think
of
anything
else.
No.
A
Thank
you,
Thank
You,
Rebecca
and
I
agree
with
you
I
the
opportunity
to
attend
this
attend
the
same.
Town,
Hall
and
I
also
want
to
say
thank
you
to
Commissioner
sterling
and
mayor
Walsh
for
helping
sponsor
it
in
you,
organize
it
as
well.
Thank
you
for
your
comments
with
that.
I
just
want
to
ask
if
there's
anyone
else
that
would
like
to
offer
any
comments.
We
have
a
microphone
on
the
left,
a
microphone
on
the
right.
This
is
public
public
comments.
If
anyone's
interested
in
coming
down
and
in
weighing
in.
T
I'm
gonna
recognize
the
save
team.
That's
a
really
important
program
within
the
Department
of
Veteran
services
that
was
started
years
ago
and
I've
sent
at
least
a
half
a
dozen
veterans
through
you
know:
David
Weller,
Gabe
Nutter,
whether
Don
Parrington,
like
those
guys,
do
important
work,
their
workloads,
enormous
they
drop
whatever
they're
doing
and
they
go
and
they
you
know
they
address
the
issues
with
critical
critically
at-risk
veterans,
whether
it's
in
the
city,
a
homeland.
You
know
I've
sent
them
to
somebody
that
I
met
in
the
street
that
was
homeless
drug-addicted.
T
You
know
they
just
drop,
what
they're
doing
and
they
go
out
and
they
search
for
them
and
they
tried
to
bring
them
in
for
treatment
through
the
VA
health
care
system,
or
so
one
of
their
partner
programs.
But
I
just
want
to
recognize,
even
if,
with
the
Veterans
Court
like
the
workloads
huge-
and
you
know
they
don't
get
recognized
enough-
and
it's
just
it's
a
wonderful
program
and
if
the
city
ever
wanted
to
start
something
similar,
that's
the
standard,
that's
the
model
that
they
should
be
going
off
of.
I
just
want
to
say
thanks.
That's.
A
That's
good
information
thanks,
Jesse
and
I
just
want
to
conclude
by
thanking
everybody
for
being
here.
I
know
it
was
a
long
hearing,
but
I
think
the
information
you
provided
to
the
public
was
exceptional
and
this
information
will
travel
on
cable,
television
and
people
might
pick
it
up
and
might
give
you
a
call.
So
I
want
to
thank
you
for
being
here
for
advocating,
for
veterans
and
for
military
families.
We
had
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
to
my
colleagues,
Tim
McCarthy
Matt,
O'malley,
Michelle,
whoo,
lianna,
Presley,
Lydia,
Edwards,
Frank,
Frank,
Baker
and
Michael.
A
Flaherty
also
gave
me
a
call,
but
I
want
to
thank
especially
the
veterans
organizations
for
providing
exceptional
services
to
returning
veterans
for
our
homeless
veterans
that
are
that
are
in
the
city.
You
know
we
have
a
tremendous
champion
in
in
mayor
Walsh
and
governor
Baker
and
I
think
our
city
and
our
state
are
leading
the
way
across
across
the
country
and
treating
our
homeless
veterans
with
respect
and
dignity
that
they
earned.
A
Our
VA
is
doing
exceptional
work
as
counsel
O'malley
mentioned.
Two
of
them
are
in
his
district
and
one
of
the
clinics.
In
my
district
on
causeway
Street
and
I
used
the
I
used
the
facility
in
West
Roxbury
and
Jamaica
Plain,
and
you
know
for
me,
the
VA
health
system
has
been
excellent.
I've
been
enrolled
in
the
VA
health
system
for
about
six
years
and
I'm.
So
happy
with
that,
and
so
you
know,
I
see
the
dedicated
nurses,
doctors
and
staff
every
day
and
volunteers
as
well.
A
The
volunteers
are
so
happy
to
be
there
that
it
makes
it
actually
fun
going
to
the
hospital
at
times.
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
the
New
England
Center
for
homeless
veterans
for
their
outstanding
work,
for
so
many
years
in
in
this
city,
the
home
base
program
for
what
for
what
you
are
doing
in
providing
quality,
compassionate
mental
health
care,
not
just
for
the
veteran,
but
also
for
military
families
as
well
again,
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
everyone
for
being
here.
I
have
an
open-door
policy.
A
If
anyone
wants
to
come
in
and
talk
to
me
about
any
veterans
issues,
if
I
could
be
of
any
assistance
to
any
veteran,
please
let
me
know,
regardless
of
what
the
issue
is
or
regardless
if
the
person
is
in
my
district
or
not
I'm
here,
to
help
I'm
proud
to
observe
23
years
in
the
Navy
and
I'm
honored
to
be
with
you
guys
and
women
today,
so
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you,
and
this
meeting
will
be
will
be
closed.
Thank
you.