►
Description
Dockets #0622-0628 Fiscal Year 2020 Budget: Veterans' Services / Age Strong Commission
A
A
We
will
take
public
testimony
at
various
points
throughout
the
hearing
you
can
provide
public
testimony
in
several
ways.
First
would
be
come
to
the
hearing
and
present
your
testimony
live.
There
is
a
sign-in
sheet
to
my
left
by
the
front
door.
We
ask
that
you
fill
out
your
name
residence,
any
affiliation
and
mark
the
box.
Yes,
if
you
wish
to
testify,
we
are
having
approximately
34
hearings
over
roughly
a
6
week
period
and
we
strongly
encourage
residents,
whether
here
in
the
chamber
at
home,
to
take
a
moment
to
engage
in
this
process.
A
A
B
The
mission
the
mayor's
office
of
veteran
services
is
to
facilitate
full
and
equal
participation
in
all
aspects
of
life
by
veterans
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
Our
office
recognizes
and
engages
with
veterans
and
their
families
advocates
for
assistance
in
the
time
of
need
and
connects
them
with
services
and
resources
that
they
have
all
earned.
Our
primary
function
is
to
assist
Boston's,
low-income
veterans
and
their
families,
as
well
as
veterans
experiencing
homelessness.
The
financial
assistance
program
known
as
Massachusetts
general
law,
chapter
115
acts
as
a
source
of
income
for
homeless
and
at-risk
veterans.
B
These
benefits
also
include
military
burial
assistance,
subsidies
for
medical
expenses
and
decoration
of
veterans
graves
and
hero
squares
for
Memorial
Day,
which
is
this
month.
We
work
very
closely
with
other
departments
within
the
Health
and
Human
Services
cabinet,
the
Department
of
Neighborhood
Development
and
the
VA
we
also
partner
with
other
city,
state,
nonprofit
and
private
agencies
to
end
veteran
homelessness.
This
partnership
called
home
for
the
Braves
is
an
initiative
started
by
Mayor
Walsh
that
has
housed
915
veterans
and
ended
chronic
homelessness
among
veterans
here
in
the
city
of
Boston.
B
We
continue
to
work
to
ensure
all
veterans
who
experiencing
homelessness,
have
a
path
to
permanent
housing
and
also
preventing
veterans
from
becoming
homeless.
Our
signature
program
is
operation.
Thank
a
veteran.
This
is
one
of
Mayor
Walsh's
favorite
programs,
because
it
brings
the
services
and
resources
to
our
veterans
doorstep.
Through
this
program
we
engage
our
veterans
and
their
families
with
a
focus
on
our
most
vulnerable
and
hard-to-reach
residents.
B
We
provide
a
means
to
identify
the
needs
of
each
veteran
and
their
families
to
better
advocate
on
their
behalf
and
to
ensure
that
the
way
in
which
we
serve
the
veterans
of
Boston
remains
effective
and
efficient.
So
how
does
operation
think
of
it
work
operation?
Think
of
it
is
volunteer
driven
without
our
volunteers.
Otv
could
not
could
not
happen.
B
Operation
thank
event
runs
from
March
through
November
last
month's
event
was
in
Dorchester,
and
our
next
one
will
be
in
Charlestown
on
June
15th,
a
group
of
volunteers,
normally
two
to
three
will
go
out
into
the
neighborhood
with
a
list
of
veterans.
These
volunteers
knock
on
a
veteran's
door
and
if
they
make
contact,
they
thank
them
for
their
service,
as
they
are
handed
a
challenge
coin.
The
veteran
is,
then
handed
a
package
which
contains
information
of
services
and
resources
that
they
and
their
families
have
earned.
B
This
packet,
which
is
handy,
liver,
is
followed
up
with
a
phone
call,
and
the
veteran
is
offered
a
home
visit
as
an
opportunity
to
talk
in
depth
about
how
the
city
can
best
support
their
needs.
If
they
are
not
home,
we
place
a
sorry.
We
missed
you
sticker
on
their
door
with
our
contact
information.
There
are
also
many
heartwarming
stories
that
come
out
of
operation.
Thank
of
it.
I
could
tell
you
that
when
Operation
think
of
it
started
back
in
2015,
there
were
a
lot
of
veterans,
in
particular
Vietnam
era
veterans.
B
They
were
never
thanked
for
their
service.
This
was
their
first
time
that
they
were
thankful
their
service
and
they
were
very
emotional.
Some
of
them
crying
some
of
them,
inviting
the
volunteers
into
the
house
to
talk
about
their
experiences,
one
that
I
like
to
talk
about
that
happened
to
me
last
year
was
a
95
year
old,
Marine
veteran
in
West
Roxbury.
She
invited
us
into
her
house
showed
us
her
uniform
on
also
husband's
uniform
and
medals.
He
also
was
in
the
United
States
Navy
during
World
War
two.
B
She
would
not
let
us
leave
her
house
until
she
played
and
sang
the
Marine
Corps
him
not
once,
but
twice
Wow.
We
are
working
with.
Do
it
to
showcase
these
stories
and
share
them
with
the
community
through
our
website.
Another
great
program
we
have
is
our
african-american
appreciation.
Brunch
that
we
hold
every
February
this
year
was
our
third
annual
brunch
for
the
first
two
years
we
held
it
at
the
William
e
Carter
American
Legion
Posts.
However,
we
outgrew
that
space,
so
we
went
to
the
ABC
Thelma
D
burns,
building
to
hold
ours
this
year.
B
This
brunch
is
a
great
opportunity
to
celebrate
and
honor
the
contributions
and
sacrifices
of
african-american
veterans
in
helping
to
create
and
add
to
our
great
nation's
legacy.
One
of
the
honorees
this
year
was
the
Massachusetts
54th
volunteer,
regiment,
reenactors
Company,
a
group
of
dedicated
volunteers,
comprised
of
both
professional
and
amateur
historians
dedicated
to
preserving
the
history
of
the
54th
Massachusetts,
voluntary,
Infantry
Regiment
and
the
black
soldiers
of
the
Civil
War.
Last
year.
As
a
new
initiative,
we
started
holding
town
halls.
This
year's
town
halls
will
focus
on
LGBTQ
veterans
and
Latin
X
veterans.
B
These
veterans
speak
about
what
her
or
his
service
means
to
them
for
a
story.
Some
real
service
message,
letter
home
or
an
excerpt
from
a
journal.
Everyone
is
encouraged
to
attend
these
veterans.
Town
Hall.
It
also
gives
veterans
a
chance
to
address
their
community
directly
without
intermediaries.
The
LGBTQ
LGBTQ
Town
Hall
will
be
on
June,
13th
location
is
still
yet
to
be
determined
and
the
Latin
next
town
hall
will
be
on
October
10th,
also
the
location
to
be
determined.
If
you
want
more
information
about
these
programs,
you
can
visit
our
website
at.
B
21St
at
UMass
Boston,
we
maintain
great
partnership
with
our
veteran
services
office
throughout
the
state
as
well.
Many
of
our
veterans
are
transient
and
jumped
from
city
to
city.
We
maintain
close
communications
to
ensure
the
veteran
is
taken
care
of
no
matter
what
town
or
city
they
relocate
to
as
successful
as
our
programs
and
outreach
has
been,
there
is
always
room
to
expand.
There
are
many
different
ways:
I
plan
on
expanding
our
outreach
and
promoting
the
mayor's
office
of
veteran
services.
B
We
are
also
working
with
a
do-it
team
to
find
creative
ways
to
advertise
our
services
and
events
through
social
media
and
other
platforms.
I
believe
an
effective
way
is
to
go
into
the
communities
and
meet
with
our
neighbors
and
educate
them
on
our
services
and
resources,
I
plan
to
attend
post
meetings
and
community
meetings.
I
will
be
reaching
out
to
our
younger
veterans
as
well
in
colleges
and
universities,
and
also
going
to
senior
centers
in
partnership
with
a
the
H
strong
Commission
I
would
like
to
bring
back
the
veterans
Advisory
Council.
B
This
group
will
create
an
increase,
engagement
and
collaboration
and
strength
and
communication
among
veterans
and
their
families
across
all
neighborhoods
and
diverse
populations
in
Boston.
There
will
advise
me
on
all
matters
concerning
veterans.
The
veterans
Advisory
Council
is
a
major
part
of
how
I
became
involved
with
Boston
veterans
community
before
the
council.
I
didn't
even
know
that
this
office
existed
this
week
and
I'm
traveling
to
New
York
City
and
before
I
return
on
Monday
I
will
be
meeting
with
Commissioner
Laurie
Sutton
of
New
York
City's
Department
of
Veterans
Services.
B
What
we're
gonna
do
we're
going
to
discuss
best
practices,
programs
and
events,
but
I
also
am
going
to
just
to
discuss
with
her
about
their
veterans.
Advisory,
Board
and
I
also
hope
to
continue
to
extend
the
network
with
other
cities
as
well.
I
would
like
to
also
recognize
the
staff
at
the
mayor's
office
of
veteran
services.
B
There
is
no
way
that
I
could
do
this
work
alone
and
I
cannot
be
any
prouder
of
the
staff
that
we
have
and
how
hard
they
work
and
tirelessly
they
work
in
taking
care
of
our
city's
veterans
and
I
also
look
forward
to
continue
working
with
the
council
in
my
new
role
as
commissioner
of
veteran
services,
again
counselors
chair,
siamo,
councillor,
Flynn,
counselor,
Lobby,
George
and
councillor
O'malley.
Thank
you
for
for
having
us
here
to
the
OU
and
council
Jeanne.
Thank
you
for
having
us
here
today.
Thank.
C
Thank
you,
Thank
You,
mr.
chairman,
and
thank
you
to
commissioner
Santiago
aye
I.
Think
the
recent
selection
appointment
as
commissioner
was
an
outstanding
selection.
You've
you've
worked
odd.
You
have
a
you
know
the
veterans
issues
you
you
listen
to
people
you're
concerned
about
our
military
families,
and
you
know
we're
proud
that
you
were
selected
as
the
as
the
Commissioner
in
Commissioner.
C
Some
of
the
highlights
you
mentioned
what
really
hit
me
the
most
was
you
know
you
our
appreciation
for
the
staff
that
you
have
that
works
with
you,
because
a
lot
of
this
work
couldn't
be
done
without
without
you,
staff
I
see
them
at
operation.
Thank
Yvette's
events,
frequently
in
the
they're,
very
professional,
very
knowledgeable
in
the
the
great
at
one
and
one
in
helping
helping
our
veterans
but
give
us
a
rundown
about
operation,
Thank
You
vet.
B
Thing
of
it
is
very
important,
like
I
mentioned
in
my
remarks,
is
it's
our
way
of
reaching
the
veterans
themselves
going
to
their
doorstep,
talking
to
them,
thanking
them
for
their
service
and
also
given
them?
I
actually
have
a
copy
of
one
of
the
photos
that
we
have
here
of
all
the
information
that
we
give
them
has
a
nice
little
letter
from
the
mayor
and
also
a
whole
bunch
of
resources.
You
can
see
here.
There's
a
food
resource
guide,
there's
also
be
cyf
locations
and
something
from
disabilities
in
here
as
well,
an
H
strong.
B
It
gives
them.
It
gives
them
the
information
that
they
need
of
the
resources
and
services
that
are
provided
by
the
city
and
also
a
lot
of
our
collaborators
like
the
like
the
the
VA.
It
also
is
a
way
for
us
to
find
out
if
there's
anything
that
they
need
from
us
which,
if,
if
they're
being
taken
care
of
as
well
one
of
the
things
that
we
do
in
our
second
search,
we
actually
give
them
and
to
just
to
follow
up
with
them
to
see
how
they're
doing
and
then
to
see.
C
Thank
You,
commissioner
and
I
know
the
mayor
has
highlighted
the
tremendous
work
of
his
administration
on
working
to
end
chronic
homelessness.
With
with
our
veterans
right
in
counselor,
Co
Mo's
district
is
Brighton
Marine
housing
for
veterans.
There
is
Patriot
home
in
my
community
just
outside
of
Lydia
Edwards
district
is
the
Chelsea
soldiers
home,
but
those
types
of
programs
are
excellent,
they're,
providing
great
services,
great
housing
opportunities.
What
else?
What
else
can
we
do
in
terms
of
providing
more
housing
options
for
our
veterans?
C
B
The
partnership
is
very
important
just
to
highlight
something
about
right:
marine.
They
were
actually
in
building
102
units
on
their
property
for
veterans,
veterans
preferences
and
it's
going
to
be
throw
a
3-tier
lottery
and
on
that
bribery
and
they're
also
building
another
25
units.
That
will
be
the
HUD
Vash
vouchers
which,
which
is
going
to
come
with
supportive
services
for
our
veterans.
So
maintaining
those
partnerships.
Is
it's
really
really
really
important
so
that
way
that
we
know
that
they
also
offer
our
veterans
housing.
B
One
of
the
things
that
I
think
we
talked
about
at
the
last
hearing
on
veterans.
Homelessness
is
talking
to
landlords
and
educating
them
as
to
why
they
should
allow
that
you
to
come
in,
because
there
seems
to
be
some
stigma
attached
to
veterans
when,
with
with
landlords,
so
maybe
educating
them
and
the
programs
that
are
afforded
to
them
as
well
and
and
with
the
vouchers
with
the
HUD
Vash
vouchers,
for
example,
and
SSBs
vouchers
and
and
I
think
that
would
be.
That
would
go
a
long
way
in
assisting
veterans
in
getting
them
housed.
Thank.
C
D
To
call
you
that
and
congratulations
again
and
miss
Jambu,
so
congratulations
as
well.
You've
got
a
great
team
in
place
there,
which
neighborhood
has
the
highest
percentage
of
veterans,
Dorchester,
Dorchester,
I,
guess
because
it's
the
biggest
neighborhood
I
guess
yeah.
That
would
make
sense
and
I
know
thank
as
thank
of
it
touched
every
neighborhood
now
any
starting.
Actually.
B
Have
great,
but
we
see
more
as
of
as
a
marathon
as
opposed
to
sprint,
there's
always
a
veteran
that
we
haven't
touched
in
in
all
neighborhoods
we
actually
last
month,
like
I,
said
we
did
it
in
Dorchester
neighborhood,
and
it
was
one
of
our
best
operation,
Thank
You,
vice
each
team
that
we're
not
actually
came
back
and
touch
at
least
eight
to
ten
veterans
described,
which
is
which
is
a
great,
which
is
a
great
number.
But
let's
see
here.
Actually
this
is
good.
I
could
actually
view
a
rundown
of
neighborhoods.
B
Terrific,
let's
see
here
so
we
have
so
as
Dorchester
has
the
highest
number
and
then
is
downtown
Back
Bay,
followed
by
West
Roxbury,
and
then
it
tears
down
to
Jamaica,
Plain,
Hyde,
Park
Roslindale
is
pretty
even
and
Bryden
also
has
a
good
number
of
veterans
in
that
neighborhood
as
well.
The
lowest
number
of
veterans
is
in
Austin
neighborhood
of
Boston,
okay,.
D
B
I've
actually
been
working
with
starting
to
work
with,
with,
with
Natalie
from
the
small
business
entrepreneurship,
she's
gonna
be
holding
a
series
of
workshops,
that's
also
involving
our
office.
We're
gonna
bring
in
some
veteran
centric
organizations
that,
like
edge
for
vets
and
veteran
I,
think
you're
actin,
but
we're
beginning
that
process
right
now,
working
with
what
Natalie
and
her
team
to
bring
in
and
work
with
veteran
great.
That's.
D
Great
and
I
see
that
the
line
item
is
pretty
pretty
level
of
us
very
slight
increase
about
a
$10,000
increase
or
I.
Guess
it's
$14,000
is
that
just
a
zoom
step
raises
and
step
increases
for
your
team.
Yes,
sir,
okay,
great
similarly
contracted
services
are
down
slightly
about
$2,700.
Is
that
just
so.
E
B
B
We
haven't
done
that
in
the
past,
so
I've
been
working
with
the
state's
Department
of
Veteran
services
for
us
to
start
that
process
of
doing
the
claims
we
have
a
budget
enough
for
FY
20s,
like
bella,
has
said
for
us
to
get
six
licenses
for
the
software
called
vet
respect
so
that
way,
we'd
be
able
to
plug
in
all
the
information
and
get
those
claims
filled
out
and
sent
over
to
the
state
for
processing.
Okay,.
D
That's
great
well,
that's
all
I
have
for
now.
This
is
the
commissioners
first
week
on
the
job.
He
was
officially
named
on
Monday
he's
someone
I've
known
the
commissioners
family
for
years,
and
it's
just
a
wonderful
addition.
He's
worked
with
honor
and
distinction
for
this
city
for
the
veterans
Department
for
many
many
years
and
we're
glad
to
see
you
at
the
helm.
Commissioner,
congratulations
and
thank
you
to
you.
Thank
you.
Thank.
A
F
B
F
B
B
F
G
So
I,
so
the
city
invests
in
senior
housing
and
so
especially
with
through
the
CPA.
Some
of
the
money
that
was
just
given
out
through
the
CPA
invest
money
in
three
different
senior
developments,
but
certainly
through
D&D.
We
invest
in
in
a
lot
of
senior
housing,
we'd
like
to
see
even
more
created
in
the
city,
so
we're
working
towards
that
with
D&D.
F
G
H
Councillor
co-moh
and
congratulations
on
the
appointment.
Definitely
well
deserved.
I,
don't
necessary.
Have
questions
in
this
round.
I
can
wait
for
the
next
round,
but
in
the
next
topic,
but
just
like
excited
for
the
appointment.
Well
deserved
and
look
forward
to
working
in
partnership
and,
of
course,
with
councillor
Flynn
on
our
side
who
chairs
our
Committee
on
City,
Neighborhood,
Services
veterans
and
military
affairs,
so
excited
Thank,
You,
counsel,
counsel,.
I
You
I
apologize
for
stepping
out
and
missing
missing
my
turn,
but
here
we
are
and
congratulations
again
if
I
could
echo
the
sentiments
of
my
colleagues
here.
My
work
on
the
committee
of
with
homelessness
mental
health
and
recovery
I
have
an
interest
in
how
we're
supporting
our
veterans,
who
are
experiencing
homelessness.
I
know
that
I
think
this
was
certainly
discussed
in
length
at
a
separate
hearing
chaired
by
councillor
Flynn,
but
I.
Just
wonder
if
you
can
give
me
some
of
the
high
numbers
of
veterans
experiencing
homelessness.
What
those
numbers
are
today.
B
Looking
at
my
GLAAD
I
actually
bought
this
as
I
mentioned
earlier
city
of
Boston,
we
have
housed
915,
homeless
veterans
and
and
into
chronic
homelessness.
We
significantly
reduced
a
number
of
homeless
veterans
in
Boston
on
a
single
night
by
three
hundred
and
fifty
five
percent
since
2014
and
by
forty
two
percent
over
the
past
ten
years.
More
than
two-thirds
of
veterans
currently
homeless
in
Boston
are
in
a
transitional
programs
such
as
the
Newman
Center
and
home
for
veterans,
and
they
also
provide
short-term
housing
and
supportive
services,
while
they
work
towards
getting
a
permanent
housing.
B
Those
are
some
at
the
end
of
the
there
was
a
25
city
initiative
to
end
homeless,
homelessness
among
amongst
veterans
which
Mayor
Walsh
answered
the
call,
and
it
was
off
First
Lady,
Michelle
Obama's,
mayor's
challenge
to
end
veteran
homelessness.
So
in
2014,
that's
when
the
Mayor
was
joined
and
at
the
end
of
the
25
City
initiative,
we
were
certified
by
the
federal
government
as
having
ended,
chronic
homelessness
among
veterans.
We
also
made
substantial
Trites
towards
ending
homelessness
among
all
veterans
in
Boston.
B
One
of
the
things
that
we
do.
We
identify
all
veterans
experience
in
homelessness.
In
the
city,
state,
federal
and
nonprofit
agencies,
we
actually
meet
weekly
and
we
also
meet
monthly
for
the
homes
for
the
brave
leadership
team
over
at
DND,
where
the
chief
Dylan's
team-
and
we
also
provide
the
capacity
to
help
all
veterans
quickly
find
permanent
housing
through
that
partnership
through
the
home
for
the
Braves
and
the
capacity
to
assist
any
further
veterans
will
become
homeless
or
at
risk
of
homelessness.
Great.
I
I
I
Through
D
and
D,
and
these
questions
I
think
Chief
Dylan
will
be
able
to
answer
them
in
more
detail.
But
there
is
an
investment
that
the
mayor's
made
in
ending
chronic
youth
homelessness,
as
well
as
other
homelessness
and
we're
hoping
I'm
hopeful
that
some
of
the
supportive
units,
through
that
funding,
will
also
support
veterans,
experience
and
homelessness,
juice,
right,
I
think
through
some
of
this
work,
you're
no
doubt
connected
to
I,
think
it's
just
important
to
Bri
and
reinforce
that
work
and
then.
B
The
burial
expenses
that
that
we
have
is
through
chapter
115
and
through
the
brave
act
that
was
signed
by
the
governor
last
year,
actually
raised
the
funding
for
the
burial
expenses
for
our
veterans
from
3,000
to
4,000.
So
that's
why
you
see
an
uptick
on
the
number
of
burial
expenses
that
we've
had
so
far.
This
fiscal
year
we've
reimbursed
26
26
burials
at
a
cost
of
sixty-five
thousand
two
hundred
and
two
dollars,
and
that
number
is
again
gonna
go
up
so.
B
B
Actually,
what
normally
happens
is
we
don't
go
through
the
family,
the
funeral,
the
funeral
home,
actually
contacts
us
and
then
at
that
point
we
fill
out
the
paperwork
as
provided
from
the
funeral
home
to
the
state,
and
then
the
state
would
come
back
with
the
approval
we
fund
it
and
we
get
reimbursed
from
the
state
75%
of
the
the
$4,000.
So.
B
B
A
B
A
What
I
would
you
know,
hope
happens
is
when
they
start
marketing
them
for
rental,
that
you
know
we
reach
out
to
our
twenty
two
thousand,
somewhat
veterans
in
the
city
of
Boston,
just
to
make
sure
that
they're
aware
of
it-
and
we
get
as
many
Boston
veterans
to
apply
for
these
opportunities.
I
have
a
few
friends
that
are
in
that
situation.
That
certainly
are
waiting
for
that
process.
To
stop.
B
C
Thank
You
counsel,
CMO
and
maybe
maybe
a
comment
and
a
final
question
to
to
the
Commissioner
first
I
want
to
say
Thank
You,
commissioner,
you
attended
and
participated
in
to
City
Council
hearings
recently
on
homeless
veterans
and
the
impact
a
federal
government
shutdown
would
have
on
our
veterans
community.
You
know
military
families
and
you
provide
exceptional
insight
on
those
two
issues
along
with
Tom
Lyons
and
in
Colman
knee
as
well.
So
I
want
to
say
thank
you
Commissioner
for
your
testimony
previously.
C
I
know
you
having
another
one
when
I,
when
I
first
started
in
in
the
military
in
86,
gay
and
lesbians
could
not
serve.
I
was
in
the
military
like
you
when
they
under
Bill
Clinton
during
Don't,
Ask,
Don't,
Tell,
and
then
I
actually
stayed
in
when
gay
and
lesbian
could
serve
openly.
So
we
saw
the
military
change.
We
also
saw
society
change,
so
you
providing
a
a
workshop,
such
as
that
is
incredible
to
the
veterans
that
really
served
our
country,
and
maybe
they
don't
have
the
services
or
the
receiving
the
services.
C
I
know:
Harvard
Law
School
has
a
program
to
try
to
help
help
veterans,
reconsider
their
discharge,
but
have
you
focused
on
I
know
of
you?
I
know
you
focused
on
it,
but
what
are
your
thoughts
about
maybe
working
closely
with
Harvard
Law
School
or
some
of
these
great
attorneys
around
Boston
to
assist
a
veteran
that
may
have
been
at
discharge
without
an
honorable
and
honorable
discharge?
We.
B
Actually
do
work
closely
with
them.
As
a
matter
of
fact,
we
in
partnership
with
Harvard
legal,
we
work
in
on
a
calculator
for
chapter
115
there
right
now
we're
beginning
to
pilot
at
the
different
and
a
different
Expos
and
events
that
we're
going
to.
We
also
work
with
veteran
legal
services
as
well
in
helping
our
veterans
who
were
discharged
because
they
were
gay
or
lesbian
in
assisting
them,
get
their
discharges
upgraded
to
an
honorable.
So
it's
an
ongoing
process
and
it's
an
ongoing
partnership
with
them
as
well
in
in
in
taking
care
of
our
veterans.
C
Well,
thank
you
Robert,
and
please
know
that
the
City
Council
is
here
for
you
and
for
your
for
your
team
and
we're
here
to
help
on
any
issue
impacting
veterans
and
military
families
and
WIPP
we're
proud
of
your
service,
and
what
proud
that
you
have
the
new
commissioner
of
Veteran
services.
Thank
you,
sir.
Thank.
D
You,
mr.
chairman,
just
two
brief
questions.
One
I
want
to
take
advantage
of
having
both
panels
up.
Has
there
been
any
talk,
or
perhaps
this
is
a
way
that
the
councillors,
particularly
the
district
councillors,
can
help
you
a
great
partnership
between
veteran
services
and
aged
strong.
We
have
a
lot
of
elderly
service
members,
vets,
I'm
thinking,
particularly
in
West
Roxbury,
where
a
quarter
of
the
population
or
senior
citizens
who
may
not
know
what
services
are
offered
to
them.
D
I'm
thinking
of
my
chief
of
staff,
McGregor's
dad
served
honorably
in
vietnam
and
because
of
bill
advocacy,
he
was
able
to
get
better
services
for
his
dad.
Who
you
know
active
that
in
during
the
vietnam
era,
is
there
ever
a
way
that
we
could
maybe
help
coordinate
some
district
office
hours
between
age,
strong
and
veterans
affairs
to
just
sort
of
explain
some
of
the
opportunities
and
supports
for
some
of
our
veterans?
That
may
not
know
that
may
not
have
access
to
the
internet
may
not
had
you
know
no
be
able
to
come
in
town.
B
Actually
been
talking
about
talking
to
of
your
staff
about
going
through
the
senior
centers
and
one
of
the
things
that
that
I've
been
doing
here
is
a
when
we
go
recognize
the
veterans
that
are
in
the
senior
centers
and
give
them
a
nice
letter
of
appreciation.
But
I
also
talk
and
discuss
about
the
services
that
we
offer
at
veteran
services.
But
definitely
a
partnership
with
a
strong
is
is
in
the
work
you.
E
D
Absolutely-
and
maybe
this
is
a
nice
time
to
do
it
with
your
appointment,
Commissioner
I'd
be
happy
to
there's
no
short
of
a
Senior
Center,
yet
in
West,
Roxbury
or
Jamaica
Plain,
there's
no
shortage
of
social
clubs
bingo.
You
know
date
stuff
like
that
that
we
can
so
maybe
the
three
of
us
and
I'm
sure
my
other
count,
District
Council
stuff
to
do
the
same
thing
to
help.
D
Do
that
and
then
on
that
point,
I,
don't
know
this
for
a
fact,
but
I
would
have
to
believe
that
I
represent
the
only
city
council
district
in
America
that
has
two
VA
hospitals.
How
has
been
your
relationship
with
both
the
West
Roxbury
and
Jamaica
Plain
VA
s,
and
and
how
is
the
federal
government
doing,
making
sure
the
support
and
financing
and
fundings
there
to
offer
quality
health
care
to
our
vets?
The.
B
Partnership
that
we
have
with
the
VA
is
outstanding.
It's
a
it's
an
open
doors,
open
communication
I
actually
worked
at
the
VA
in
Jamaica
Plain
for
nine
years
before
I
came
to
work
for
the
city
director,
Inge,
actually
I
met
with
him
a
couple
of
weeks
ago
with
with
David
Hickey,
who
was
his
outreach
person
over
there
talking
about
some
more
collaborative
things
that
we
could
do
better
together.
Okay,.
B
To
say
that
the
VA
system
here
or
visit
one
system
here
in
Boston
is
also
the
best
in
the
country.
Really.
There
are
actually
veterans
that
travel
from
certain
other
states
in
the
country
to
get
their
care
up
in
our
VA
system
and
that's
because
of
their
collaboration,
not
just
with
us,
but
with
Mass
General
with
with
Harvard
with
bu,
so
there
that
our
veterans
are
getting
very
good
care
here
in
the
in
the
Boston
system.
Is
it
perfect?
B
A
You
mr.
chairman,
yeah
I
have
a
92
year
old
uncle
that
still
goes
to
the
VA,
and
you
hear
the
horror
stories
across
the
nation,
but
he
gets
tremendous
care
out
of
the
local.
You
know
the
ones
that
Matt
mentioned
in
his
district,
so
I'm
really
proud
of
the
fact
that
we
take
care
of
our
vets,
both
medically
and
we
have
our
own
department
to
help
bridge
those
and
bring
those
services
to
them.
So
I
want
to.
Thank
you
again.
Thank
you
for
your
testimony
today.
A
Robert
Bellah
and
we're
gonna,
just
kind
of
shift
gears
and
focus
on
elderly
you're,
welcome
to
stay
or
ya
stay
so
once
again
we're
gonna
shift
to
the
elderly
Commission.
We
want
to
welcome
Emily,
Shay
and
Francis
Thomas
Francis
good,
to
see
you
long
time.
Okay,
you
have
your
opening
statement.
Sure.
G
Thank
You
counselor,
Thank,
You,
chairman
co-moh
and
other
members
of
the
council,
counselor
sabe
Jorge
and
councillor
O'malley,
and
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
be
here
today.
I
know
we
were
here
about
six
years
ago
for
a
budget
hearing
and
I'm
really
thrilled
to
be
back
and
happy
to
give
you
an
update
on
our
funding,
our
programs
and
to
answer
any
of
your
questions.
So
we're
really
grateful
for
the
support
and
the
partnership
of
the
council
and
just
to
councillor
co-moh
I
know
this
is
your
your
last
year
here
your
step
down.
G
You've
been
a
great
friend
and
partner
to
me
since
my
very
first
job
here
in
Boston,
and
thank
you
for
that.
I
also
want
to
thank
Francis
Thomas,
our
Deputy
Commissioner
of
Finance,
who
flew
back
into
town
from
Sierra
Leone
yesterday
Wow
and
is
back
in
the
office
today
and
I'm
very,
very
grateful
that
all
the
flights
worked.
G
So
in
Boston,
older
adults
are
one
of
our
fastest
growing
populations.
The
American
Community
Survey
estimates
in
2017.
There
were
a
hundred
and
five
thousand
people
over
the
age
of
60
in
Boston,
compared
to
88
thousand
people
over
60
in
just
2010.
While
much
of
the
growth
in
older
adults
is
aging
baby
boomers
over
ten
thousand
of
our
residents
in
Boston
are
over
the
age
of
85.
F
G
Serving
this
broad
age
range,
essentially,
people
aged
55
to
105
requires
planning
programs,
service
provision
and
education
for
multiple
generations
and
needs
at
the
age
strong
Commission.
We
have
a
budget
of
11.6
million
dollars.
That's
what
what
is
requested
for
2020
about
four
million
of
this
comes
from
city
operating
budget.
G
7.6
million
dollars
of
our
budget
is
made
of
external
funds
from
both
federal
and
state
governments.
One
of
our
responsibilities,
as
Boston's
Area
Agency
on
Aging,
is
to
distribute
older,
Americans
Act
dollars
into
the
community.
We
use
5.3
million
dollars
of
our
external
funds
to
support
the
work
of
23
community
organizations
making
up
the
aging
services
Network
in
Boston.
G
These
agencies
provide
legal
services,
caregiver
services,
Meals
on
Wheels
and
free
congregate,
dining
sites
in
Boston,
recreation,
exercise,
translation
interpretation
and
much
much
more
in
a
very
culturally
competent
way,
and
we
couldn't
do
our
work
without
them.
We
use
an
additional
two
hundred
and
seven
5,000
of
our
of
our
dollars
to
pay
for
tax-exempt,
stipends
meals
and
travel
reimbursement
for
over
300
volunteers,
who,
together,
contribute
over
83,000
hours
of
service
across
Boston
every
year,
the
remainder
of
our
funds.
We
keep
internally
to
support
the
work
of
76,
dedicated,
diverse
team
members.
G
Our
team
provides
constituent
services,
including
advocacy
assistance
with
benefits,
applications
and
Medicare
help,
navigating
city
services
and
aging
services
and
housing,
information
and
assistance.
We
provide
volunteer
programs
for
people
over
the
age
of
55,
large
and
small
events
and
I
know:
we've
seen
you
at
some
of
those
and
healthy
aging
programming
transportation,
including
the
aged
strong
shuttle
and
distribution
of
taxi
coupons
and
the
operation
of
the
Veronica
B
Smith
Senior
Center
in
Brighton.
G
Additionally,
we
are
working
across
city
departments
and
with
partner
organizations
and
residents
to
create
the
system,
changes
that
are
necessary
to
make
Boston
age
and
dementia
friendly
we've
been
working
hard
to
meet
the
needs
of
the
community.
Over
the
past
couple
of
years,
we've
reorganized
our
team
to
target
some
areas
of
need
that
were
raised
during
our
Age
Friendly
needs
assessment
process
we
built
and
expanded
our
age
and
dementia
friendly
team.
We
now
have
a
team
of
three
working
to
coordinate
the
implementation
of
our
75
step.
G
Age
Friendly
action
plan
in
June,
we'll
be
starting
our
third
year
of
age
action
plan
implementation.
Some
highlights
this
year
include
age
and
dementia,
friendly
training
for
front-facing
city
staff,
completing
the
pilot
stages
of
an
aged
and
dementia
friendly
business
certification
program
and
we're
in
the
planning
stages
of
an
event
highlighting
skill
building
and
connection
with
area
businesses
for
older
adults
searching
for
paid
employment.
We
doubled
the
size
of
our
outreach
and
engagement
team
from
two
people
to
four
people
to
expand
the
amount
of
events
and
programming
happening
throughout
Boston
neighborhood.
G
We
are
targeting
gap
areas
identified
through
our
age-friendly
work
and
working
with
partners
to
bring
new
programs
to
the
community
like
more
memory
cafes
for
people
with
dementia
and
their
caregivers,
and
then
tai,
chi
and
other
healthy
aging
programming's
and
we'll
have
some
arts
and
culture
programming
rolling
out
as
well.
These
programs
are
designed
to
engage
and
to
empower
older
adults
and
make
sure
that
people
are
connected
in
the
community
due
to
increasing
needs
and
complexity.
We
built
and
expanded
a
housing
unit,
primarily
through
increases
in
external
council
on
aging
funds.
G
This
is
such
a
big
area
of
need.
We
were
very,
very
grateful
for
the
city,
FY
19
investment
in
this
work,
adding
a
fifth
person
to
our
housing
team.
Additionally,
in
FY
19,
we
had
a
city
investment
of
$300,000
to
support
meals
on
wheels
for
older
adults
and
you'll,
see
this
money
in
the
FY
2008
as
well.
This
money
has
been
critically
important
to
the
continued
operation
of
this
program
in
Boston,
and
so
we're
very
grateful
for
those
dollars.
G
We're
also
very
glad
for
the
combined
investment
of
both
the
city
and
mascot
in
new
scheduling
software
for
the
Aged
strong
shuttle
that
will
modernize
our
shuttle
operations,
allowing
for
a
better
shuttle
experience
both
for
our
riders
and
also
for
our
team
members,
and
our
staff
will
be
going
through
training
on
the
new
software
towards
the
end
of
May.
So
we're
really
excited
for
that
implementation,
and
you
might
have
noticed
our
new
name,
the
H
strong
Commission.
G
G
Changing
the
negative
stereotypes
around
aging
is
an
important
part
of
our
work
and
you'll
continue
to
see
that
theme
and
everything
we
do,
including
at
our
events
in
Turner
Month
magazine
seniority,
magazine
also
in
FY
19,
through
a
grant
from
the
math
councils
on
Aging
as
part
of
a
federal
grant
from
the
administration
for
community
living.
We
started
a
new
respite
program.
We
are
now
recruiting
and
training
volunteers
to
provide
respite
services
for
caregivers
of
people
with
dementia.
G
These
passionate
competent
volunteers
are
giving
caregivers
some
precious
time
time
where
they
don't
have
to
worry
about
their
loved
ones.
To
take
a
break,
do
some
errands
or
simply
have
a
cup
of
tea
with
friends.
We
have
to
continue
to
take
steps
to
support
caregivers
and
people
with
dementia.
We've
invested
this
year
in
staff
training,
our
entire
team
participated
in
a
full-day
diversity,
training
and
a
half
day,
training
focused
on
LGBT,
older
adults
and
better
serving
that
population.
G
In
addition,
we
continue
to
support
our
team
members
to
participate
in
the
online
foundations
and
aging
and
disability
certificate
program
through
the
Center
for
aging
and
disability
research
and
education
at
BU.
Finally,
FY
19
marked
our
first
year
as
part
of
the
Health
and
Human
Services
cabinet
under
chief
Marty
Martinez.
It's
been
a
great
experience
to
be
part
of
the
team
and
we're
with
veteran
services
as
well.
G
This
year,
through
the
leadership
of
HHS,
we've
participated
in
a
collective
impact
impact
planning
process
to
develop
shared
goals
and
we'll
be
working
together
as
a
team
and
in
collaboration
with
DNG
to
move
the
needle
on
housing
stability,
something
that
impacts
all
of
the
people
that
we
serve
in
the
cabinet.
We're
excited
to
move
forward
over
the
next
year
and
to
continue
meeting
community
needs.
This
work
will
be
enhanced
by
a
$100,000
investment
in
the
FY
2010
unseen
EUR
programming.
G
Boston
is
one
of
the
few
cities
without
a
city
run
network
of
senior
centers
and
we
had.
But
that
being
said,
we
have
a
very
rich
array
of
programs
that
seniors
can
access
and
get
involved
in
the
city
operates
four
locations
with
ongoing
senior
programming
through
our
office
and
be
CYF,
and
through
our
older
transact
funding,
we
support
11,
more
programming
locations
throughout
the
city
throughout
city
neighborhoods.
The
$100,000
investment
will
allow
us
to
bring
these
sites
and
site
directors
together
into
a
Learning
Network.
G
C
C
You
know
your
team
may
have
a
little
boot
somewhere
at
an
event,
but
they're
always
walking
around
engaging
people
that
don't
come
up
to
them.
So
the
outreach
that
your
staff
is
doing
at
various
events
is
exceptional.
I
noticed
I
noticed
that
frequently,
when
I,
when
I
see
when
I
see
them
so
I
just
wanted
to
pass
that
along
to
you.
Thank.
C
C
But
what
what
can
we
do
to
help
our
our
seniors
that
are
caring
for
grandchildren?
Some
of
them
might
be
special-needs
children
as
well,
but
it
often
can
be
a
stressful
time
for
the
for
our
seniors
when
they're
caring
for
little
little
children
as
well
but
anymore.
Any
thoughts
about
that
type
of
subject,
sure.
G
So
that's
a
really
important
area
and
that's
why
we
actually,
as
part
of
our
older
Americans,
Act
funding,
we
have
a
pot
of
money
that
goes
to
caregiver
services
and
we're
allowed
to
spend
up
to
10
percent
of
that
pot
of
money
on
services
supporting
grandparents
raising
grandchildren,
and
so
we
actually
use
the
full
ten
percent
here
in
Boston
to
support
a
program.
That's
run
by
MS
PCC
that
supports
grandparents
raising
grandchildren.
They
are
experts
in
this
area.
They
provide
support
groups
across
the
city.
G
C
You-
and
my
final
question,
commissioner,
is
with
the
with
the
uncertainty
of
the
federal
government
in
you
know
the
possibility
that
it
could
be
shut
down
again.
Sometime
are
there
programs
that
you
supervise
that
you
manage?
That
could
be
impacted
if
there
is
a
federal
federal
government
shutdown
in
those
funds,
when
the
federal
government
does
not
get
into
the
city
of
Boston
Treasury,
it's
it's
it's
a
case.
I
worked
on
with
Commissioner
Santiago.
C
G
I
mean
so
so
if
there
was
a
government
shutdown
that
was
long
enough,
that
budget
funds
weren't
kind
of
implemented.
The
last
shutdown
didn't
impact
us
because
we
already
were
funded
and
it
was.
We
were
okay,
but
if
there
was
one
long
enough,
they
actually
impacted
the
funding.
We
would
lose
over
half
of
our
funding.
Okay,.
C
G
G
We
were
actually
looking
back
at
numbers
from
2000
and
we
are
getting
less
money
now
than
we
were
getting
then
so
the
fund
certainly
haven't
increased,
but
they
are
a
significant
portion
of
our
budget
and
they
fund
everything
from
some
of
our
team
downstairs
and
the
work
that
we
do
internally
here
at
the
Commission
to
the
meals
on
wheels
that
congregate
meal
sites
that
caregiver
services,
the
legal
services.
A
lot
of
the
programming
I
mean
they
just
find
a
wide
breadth
of
things
here
in
Boston.
Well,.
G
A
G
I
You
Sharon
thank
you
both
for
being
here
today
last
year,
my
office
did
some
work
around
elder
scamming
and
I'm
wondering
if
you
have
any
information
to
share
on
either
an
uptick
or
an
improvement
in
reports
of
financial,
scamming
or
other
types
of
scams.
Our
older
adults
and
Boston
are
facing
sure.
G
Sure
we
appreciate
your
work
around
that
issue.
Counsel.
I
know
you
were
out
talking
to
a
number
of
groups
in
the
in
the
city,
so
so
our
office
is
probably
not
the
main
place
that
people
are
reporting
scams.
So
I
don't
know
that
we've
seen
much
of
a
change
there,
based
on
what
we
were
seeing
before
I
think
people
are
more
likely
to
go
to
the
police
department
and
report
scams
or
reporting
them
to
the
attorney
general's
office.
G
G
We
have
various
task
force's
that
have
met
over
the
years
and
we
ended
up
ending
one
of
our
long-standing
task
forces,
our
health
and
long-term
care
task
force,
because
participants
in
that
really
I
wanted
to
shift
to
focus
more
on
scams,
abuse
neglect
around
around
those
areas,
and
so
we
have
a
new
task
force
that
will
be
focused
on
that
work,
on
trying
to
bring
the
parties
together,
because
so
many
different
people
are
working
on
it.
We
really
need
to
figure
out
how
we
all
work
as
a
team
so
that
we're
providing
a
consistent
message.
G
We
also
actually
are
very
happy.
We
just
got
some
funding
through
and
I'm,
not
going
to
remember
exactly
their
name,
but
it's
a
network
of
credit
unions,
and
we
can
get
you
the
exact
name.
They
just
gave
us
ten
thousand
dollars
to
be
addressing
skin,
so
we
are
now
putting
together
our
proposal
in
terms
of
what
we
would
do
with
those
dollars,
but
a
really
important
area
and
I
certainly
would
invite
you
and
your
team
to
be
part
of
this
task
force
as
it
moves
forward
and
develops
ideas
for
address
that.
I
I
I
talk
a
lot
about
that
when
we
think
about
our
young,
our
students
and
our
high
school
students
in
particular,
but
we
do
recognize
as
technology
changes
as
the
way
that
we
pay
bills
changes
as
the
way
that
we
interact
with
people
either
through
technology
or
through
smart
phones,
that
our
older
residents
could
use
some
refreshers
when
it
comes
to
financial
literacy,
because
the
way
that
we
interact
financially
is
very
different.
Does
your
office
thought
at
all
about
that,
or
is
that
topic
at
on
any
sort
of
work
yeah?
So.
G
We
we
are
thinking
about
how
we
might
combine
some
of
that
with
the
scams
topic,
because
financial
literacy
and
scams
kind
of
go
hand
in
hand
and
we're
still
kind
of
working
through.
What
that
might
look
like
I
recently
saw
a
great
multi
session
class
that
was
put
out
by
that
Consumer
Financial
Protection
Bureau
money,
smart
for
older
adults,
that
I
really
like
the
look
of-
and
so
just
trying
to
think
about-
is
that
the
way
to
go
to
be
implementing
this
across
the
city?
How
would
we
do
that?
G
You
know
we
go
through
trained
volunteers
when
we
try
and
get
staff
to
do
so
right
now,
in
the
midst
of
kind
of
figuring
out,
all
of
those
all
of
those
different
things,
but
I
I.
Think
financial
literacy
throughout
the
lifetime
is
a
really
important
to
focus
on
and
then
on
the
technology
piece
we've
had
some
conversations
with
AT&T.
G
Recently,
who's
been
a
great
partner
to
us
about
going
out
with
them
throughout
the
community
and
having
them
teach
something
focused
on
scams,
but
really
about
technologies
like
being
safe
on
your
iPhone,
on
your
on
your
cell
phone
being
safe
on
your
laptop
those
types
of
things,
so
looking
forward
to
rolling
that
out
over
the
next
year
as
well.
That's.
I
Great
and
I
imagine
that
many
of
the
banks
in
the
city
of
Boston
would
be
interested
in
partnering
too,
because
it
they
spend
a
lot
of
their
own
time
and
they
are
financed
their
financial
resources
when,
when
our
residents
do
that
scam,
so
thank
you
for
that.
Thank
you
for
your
focus
in
your
work
thanks.
Thank
you.
Thank.
D
D
Commissioner
I
love
the
work
you
do.
We
work
very
very
closely,
particularly
in
my
district.
One
of
the
things
that
I
know.
Many
of
my
seniors
really
value
is
the
taxi
coupons.
One
of
your
staff
will
come
out
after
a
community
meeting
or
a
monthly
residents
meeting
and
give
taxi
coupons.
Has
there
been
any
outreach
to
some
of
the
TNCs
or
the
rideshares
about
doing
discounted
senior
rates
or
maybe
helped
educate
some
seniors
on
how
to
use
sort
of
the
apps?
That
may
not
know
how
to
use
that
hasn't
been
any
conversations
on
that
yeah.
G
So
we
really
haven't
dug
into
that
too
much
a
number
of
other
councils
on
Aging
are
starting
to
do
some
of
that
work
yeah
across
the
across
the
state.
We
have
a
program
downstairs
that
we
started
maybe
two
years
ago
as
part
of
our
RSVP
program.
We
actually
have
some
RSVP
volunteers,
I
think
in
the
room
along
with
I
should
just
say,
along
with
some
of
our
Civic
Academy
members,
who
are
here
watching
today
and
some
of
that,
the
mayor's
I
senior
Advisory
Council
members,
who
are
here
as
well,
who
were
meeting
upstairs
before
this.
G
E
G
But
I'm,
but
we
now
I've
lost
my
train
of
thought.
Okay,
so
we
haven't.
We
haven't
delved
too
much
into
the
right
chairs,
but
our
bus
buddies
program
is
a
travel
training
program.
So
we
actually
we
work
with
mascotte
to
train
volunteers
who
then
help
people
who
either
haven't
taken
public
transportation
in
a
long
time
or
are
new
to
public
teacher
public
transportation.
Help
them
understand
how
to
navigate
public
transportation.
Read
the
maps,
learn
about
safety.
G
D
I
think
that
that's
helpful
to
hear
and
I
would
suggest
you
take
it
one
step
further
see
if
there's
any
opportunity
for
discounted
rates
for
seniors
the
way
it
could
be
limited
number
a
month
similar
to
the
taxi
coupons,
but
I
think
that
there
could
be
a
great
synergy
there,
that
the
TNCs
would
jump
all
over.
So
thank
you
for
that,
and
thank
you
to
our
folks
from
the
senior
civics
Academy.
That
was
a
great
afternoon.
We
had
several
weeks
ago
and
the
mayor
of
Stockholm
Sweden
crashed
and
joined
our
little
Q&A.
D
G
G
Up
sure
so
I'm,
so
some
of
that
reflects
and
Francis
feel
free
to
jump
in.
Some
of
that
reflects
a
need
to
to
pay
more
for
the
buses
that
transport
to
our
events
and
and
some
of
the
other
piece
of
that
you'll
see
because
we've
increased
our
programming
across
the
city.
We
have
some
additional
costs
associated
with
that
that
our
transportation
and
food
related
and
some
equipment
for
some
of
the
programs
that
we're
running
so,
for
example,.
D
D
D
G
So
I,
as
I
said
before,
we
can't
do
our
work
without
the
nonprofits.
We
support
23
nonprofit
organizations
through
our
older
Americans
act
funds
to
provide
a
whole
array
of
services.
Some
of
those
are
kind
of
located
out
in
the
neighborhoods
like
ethos
or
they're,
serving
specific
cultural
populations
like
Chinese,
Golden,
Age,
central
Alianza
hispana.
We
support
MADD
mass
Association
for
the
blind
to
do
some
work
with
folks
that
are
legally
blind
and
older
and
Boston,
as
well
as
deaf
Inc
to
do
work
with
our
population.
E
G
Essential
and
then
you
mentioned
ethos,
r3a
saps
ethos,
central
Boston,
elder
services
in
Boston
senior
home
care.
We
actually
are
part
of
the
same
network
at
through
that
elder
services
department
at
the
state,
so
we're
all
on
the
same
data
system.
We're
able
to
see
when
somebody
is
getting
services
from
each
other
so
that
we
can
call
them.
We
can
coordinate
care
in
a
better
way.
Great.
D
D
G
D
There
you
go
I've,
given
it
to
you,
it's
been
a
terrific
work.
Thank
you
for
your
advocacy.
Obviously,
chief
Dillon,
my
team
and
I
were
involved
in
the
weeds
and
it's
an
inspiring
use,
seeing
your
building
that
there
was
a
lot
of
concern
that
we'd
see
dozens,
if
not
hundreds
of
seniors
who
could
be
at
risk
of
losing
and
that's
going
to
be
protected
so
that.
G
E
D
H
Thank
You
councillor
co-moh
and
I
apologize.
The
simultaneous
meetings
happening
here,
but
I
also
want
to
thank
a
lot
of
folks
came
out
to
testify
and
offer
I'm
sure
their
thanks
and
as
well
as
what
they
think.
We
could
always
be
doing
better,
but
I
appreciate
both
of
you
for
the
work
that
you
do
on
behalf
of
our
seniors
and
I
know
that
many
of
my
questions
were
asked.
H
I
did
have
one
of
my
biggest
questions
was
related
to
transportation,
she's,
getting
our
seniors
to
events,
whether
down
here
in
districts
in
the
community
out
of
their
neighborhood
I
know.
We
work
with
the
ride
and
I'm
trying
to
think
of
creative
ways,
but
it
is
a
big
concern,
and
so
it
was.
It
was
good
to
see
this.
This
increase
in
the
budge
for
the
transportation
line-item
well.
G
Yeah,
so
that's
not
actually
an
increase
in
the
amount
of
transportation
our
transportation
costs
are
going
up.
We
typically
use
school
buses
to
transport
to
events,
but
we
have
been
having
a
lot
of
trouble
with
school
bus
availability
with
our
school
bus
contracts
for
weekday
events
because
of
the
how
late
they're
dropping
off
at
school
and
how
early
they're
picking
up-
and
this
is
not
the
school
buses
that
transport
buffs
from
public
schools.
G
G
H
G
G
So
that
may
be
an
opportunity,
but
we
need
to
kind
of
see
how
that
plays
out
with
the
new
software
and
folks
getting
used
to
it
and
then
seeing
how
it
works
for
us
and
then
in
terms
of
kind
of
what
we
would
need
to
be,
for
example,
hiring
buses
for
other
types
of
large
events.
In
the
past,
we
used
to
be
able
to
provide
more
bus
transportation,
but
for
a
long
time,
we've
really
just
focused
on
the
events
at
the
aid
strong
Commission
provides
based
on
kind
of
you
know
some
long
time
ago.
G
Budget
decreases
that
we
had,
but
I
will
say.
The
cost
of
one
bus
for
an
event
is
six
hundred
yes
about
six
hundred
dollars,
and
so
that's
one
bus
load
of
people
going
to
an
event
so
that,
just
to
give
you
a
little
bit
of
an
idea,
it
would
depend
on
how
many
additional
events
we
wanted
to
do
and
how
we
wanted.
You
know
how
we
could
fund
that
this.
H
Is
helpful,
I
mean
I
will
keep
pushing
I
mean
you
know.
I
know
you
guys
are
for
that
budget
to
increase,
because
it
really
is
a
big
concern
and
trying
to
get
our
seniors
outside
of
our
district
and
particularly
those
seniors,
and
you
know
this
who
are
living
in
senior
living
where
it's
just
the
senior
population
who
want
to
get
out
of
a
senior
building
and
exposed
to
other
events
who
may
not
have
as
much
flexibility
as
our
seniors
who
live
in
community
or
live
on
their
own.
H
H
One
of
the
things
that
have
been
coming
up
recently
is
this
idea
of
intergenerational
housing
seniors,
who
don't
want
to
just
live
amongst
folks
in
their
same
age
bracket?
But
what
does
it
mean
to
have
a
younger
population
sharing
the
same
space
and
having
appropriate
amenities?
I
mean
we
know
there
are
small
developers
doing
that
in
different
spaces
across
the
city,
which
is
exciting,
so
I'm
curious
how
how
much
you're
involved
in
the
conversations
at
D
and
D
with
respect
to
housing,
sure.
G
We
work
really
closely
with
chief
Dylan
and
her
team
they're
fantastic
over
there.
We
actually
this
year,
based
on
a
budget
investment
that
was
made
last
year
in
Indian
DS
technology
budget.
We
were
able
to
get
on
the
same
data
system
with
them
for
for
some
of
their
work
through
the
Boston
Home
Center.
So
we're
able
to
know
when
they're
working
on
a
case
when
we're
getting
the
same
calls
and
really
do
some
collaborative
work
together.
G
Also,
we've
worked
really
closely
with
chief
Dylan
and
her
team,
around
kind
of
just
strategizing,
around
senior
housing
in
Boston.
I.
Think
that
you
know
we
have.
We
have
a
very
diverse
group
of
folks
in
the
community
and
what
we
want
to
see
in
terms
of
housing
for
people
is
an
array
of
housing
options,
because
you're
right,
some
people
will
choose
to
live
in
the
senior.
Only
building
some
people
will
choose
to
live
in
intergenerational
housing.
G
Some
people
want
to
stay
in
their
home
and
have
some
modifications
made
and
so
we're
working
on
all
of
those
fronts
to
make
sure
that
we
have
enough
options
for
people
so
that
they
can
kind
of
age.
As
they
want
to
in
the
city,
we
also
have
been
doing
a
lot
of
thinking
lately
through
our
some
of
our
H
friendly
work
with
Chief
Dylan
and
her
team
around
Universal
Design
and
the
idea
of
creating
housing.
That's
meant
people
are
meant
to
agent,
we're.
E
G
H
You
know
really
happy
when
their
projects
that
come
before
us
with
respect
to
CPA
for
senior
housing,
because
it's
a
it's
a
major
issue
and
then
other
programs
that
keep
seniors
in
their
homes
senior
repair
program,
so
we'll
be
having
conversations
with
as
well.
How
we
strengthen
that,
how
we
expand
it
so
more
seniors
can
participate
and
can
stay
in
their
home.
It
gets
my
last
sort
of
questions.
Some
of
the
others
have
already
been
asked
and
answered
is
what
does
outreach
look
like
there's
some
great
things.
You're
doing
here.
H
Obviously
the
police
show
up
the
Health
Commission
trauma
teams,
councillor
Baker,
just
unfortunate
shooting
in
his
district
emergency
meeting
last
night,
I
always
think
about,
because
you,
your
department,
tends
to
touch
those
seniors,
not
just
in
a
reactionary
time
or
an
awful
time,
but
in
happy
moments
what
role
your
department
plays
and
outreach
to
seniors
after
some
horrific
events
that
happen
in
their
community.
So
that's
a
sort
of
twofold
question.
Sure.
A
E
E
G
Capital
funds,
so
we
would
love
to
see
that
continue,
but
in
in
terms
of
outreach,
we
we
focus
all
the
time
on
outreach.
We
do
so
many
programs
and
we
really
want
to
make
sure
that
we're
meeting
people
and
reaching
people
in
the
community
we
have
about
half
of
our
older
adults
who
are
renters
and
about
half
of
them
who
are
hone
homeowners.
We
have
a
lot
of
people
who
live
in
senior
buildings.
We
have
a
lot
of
folks
living
in
their
own
home
and
we
don't
have
a
mailing
list
in
the
city.
G
We
don't
have
a
list
of
our
older
homeowners
or
our
older
adults,
so
we
do
outreach
in
all
different
ways.
So
we
reach
out
to
the
senior
buildings
we
reach
out
to
this
senior
groups
and
centers.
There's,
there's
probably
you
know:
50
75
different
senior
groups
out
there
that
are
meeting
in
buildings
and
other
locations,
so
we've
reached
out
through
those
basic
networks
we
reach
out
through
our
community
partners
to
get
the
word
out
about
things
we
also
we've
started.
G
Some
tried
to
do
some
more
creative
outreach
to
reach
people
we're
not
typically
reaching
so
things
like
going
into
neighborhoods
and
flyering
in
all
different
locations
that
we
think
people
will
be
going
things
like
going
to
farmers,
markets
or
other
places
that
we
think
we
might
find
older
adults
that
we
wouldn't
typically
that
wouldn't
typically
be
an
outreach
place
for
us.
So
we're
trying
to
be
really
creative
about
it.
But
I
wouldn't
say
that
we
have
found
the
perfect
solution.
G
H
We
just
want
to
offer
me
and
one
of
the
things
I
mean
we're
doing
our
districts.
We
have
our
senior
ambassadors,
you
know
Cheryl,
for
my
team,
of
course,
and
in
some
of
our
senior
ambassadors
are
here
and
that
their
goal
is
to
try
to
do
be
intentionally
been
connecting
with
folks
on
their
Street
or
in
their
their
little
neighborhood.
H
You
know
they're
there.
There
are
eight
eyes
and
ears
on
the
ground,
so
I'm
curious,
you
know
what
well
what
would
it
mean
to
empower
those
folks,
stipend,
some
folks
to
do
some
of
that
outreach
stipend,
some
of
our
seniors
in
some
way,
I'm
just
sort
of
thinking
outside
the
box,
because
you
do
have
a
willingness.
Many
of
our
elders
actually
run
some
of
the
civic
associations.
H
Those
are
willing,
and
they
have
the
time
during
the
day
and
that's
why
it's
summer
here,
obviously
or
the
evening
that
for
that
matter
to
to
do
some
of
that
outreach
in
their
neighborhoods
on
their
streets
and
it's
a
way
to
not
just
applaud
them
but
to
compensate
them
for
sometimes
we
can
continue
that
offline
I
know
my
time
is
I.
Think
I
was
waiting
for
a
buzzing.
J
A
H
Waiting
for
a
buzzer
and
I
know,
people
are
doing
public
testimony
or
not,
but
I
can
followup
with
respect
to
some
other
questions
offline.
But
you
want
to
think
more
creatively
with
you
about
outreach
and
then
some
of
these
other
questions,
I'll
save
for
chief
Dylan
or
other
relevant
departments.
Okay,.
G
H
H
I
think
it's
important
because
there's
a
folks
that
are
likely
to
respond
better
to
you
guys,
and
they
would
some
of
these
other
folks
who
either
new
to
them
or
frankly,
are
only
calling
them
after
something
serious
and
it's
not
a
warm
connection
or
even
a
warm
referral
for
that
matter.
So
it
look
forward
to
continue
in
that
conversation.
Thank
you
and
thank
you
counselors.
You
know.
A
Thank
you
and
I
have
to
jump
to
an
appointment,
so
I'm
gonna
hand
the
gavel
off
to
to
councillor
Flynn
and
just
want
to
wrap
my
time
up
with
saying
thanks
again
for
all
the
great
and
important
work
you're
doing
in
Francis,
some
I
hope
you
didn't
cut
that
trip
short
to
come
to
this
hearing.
That's
all
I
want
to
hear
okay,
very
good
thanks
again
and
councillor
Baker
has
a
line
of
questioning
yeah.
K
K
From
my
alma
mater
I
wasn't
awarded
any
leadership
scholarships
when
I
was
there,
but
so
thank
you.
Thank
You
mr.
chair
and
just
a
quick
round
of
questioning
president
campbell
talked
a
bit
about
our
our
reach
out.
How
are
we
getting
and
I
find
that
we
can
find
the
people
in
the
homes
you
know
whether,
if
it's
kid
clock
or
Keystone
or
Cisco,
we
can
find
those
people
much
more
difficult
to
connect
on
seniors
that
are
in
their
homes.
I've
literally
identified
people
in
my
district
and
sent
your
people
out
there
to
check
on
them.
G
J
E
G
K
G
There
also
are
a
lot
of
people
that
are
getting
information
from
television.
We
try
to
diversify,
how
we
do
our
communications
work
and
I
will
say.
Communications
came
up
as
kind
of
one
of
the
most
important
findings
when
we
went
out
and
talked
to
the
community
around
age-friendly
and
since
then,
we've
invested
in
a
communications
director,
which
is
a
position
we
didn't
have
before.
K
G
I'm
not
use
director
I'm,
not
sure
how
that
person
would
get
a
list,
so
we've
been
working
with
that
city
would
do
it
and
with
some
other
organizations
with
some
other
City
departments,
to
try
to
figure
out
how
to
better
target
people
in
their
homes
and
I.
Don't
know
that
we,
as
of
yet
have
a
great
solution
to
that.
So
the
city
doesn't
have
a
lot
of
databases
except
elections.
Yeah.
K
K
G
G
Use
the
elections
list,
we
do
have
the
elections
list,
we
we
don't
and-
and
we
probably
have
on
that
elections
list-
maybe
fifty
thousand
of
that
of
the
and
5,000
people
over
60
in
Boston.
What
we
don't
have
is
a
we
haven't
had
the
we
haven't
done,
mass
mailings
to
groups
of
people
like
that,
so
we
haven't
had
the
mailing
budget
for
that
yeah.
G
Yeah
I
mean
I
think
these
are
all
wheat.
We
in
our
in
our
plan,
we've
kind
of
created
a
list
of
all
of
the
different
types
of
communication
that
we
could
do
and
kind
of
at
the
amount
of
effort
that
would
take,
because,
obviously,
we
only
have
so
much
capacity
and
the
amount
of
funds
that
that
would
take,
because
you
know
everyone
has
to
work
within
their
budget
and
so
we're
really
looking
at.
What
can
we
do
that?
Our
kind
of
big
target?
G
You
know
big-ticket
ways
to
reach
me
to
reach
people,
but
we
have
to
outreach
on
so
many
different
things.
I
mean
you
wouldn't
believe
across
all
of
the
domains
of
age-friendly
communication
came
up
so
around
transportation,
around
economic
security
around
everything,
and
so
there's
a
lot
to
communicate
and
the
best
way
to
do
that.
I
think
we're
still
trying
to
figure
out
appreciate
any
ideas
and.
K
G
On
what
the
modifications
are
that
can
sometimes
be
fit
into
this
in
your
home
repair
budget,
it
depends
on
what
the
modifications
are
and
how
much
they
cost,
and
things
like
that.
There
are
other
home
modification
programs
that
people
can
access,
I,
believe
there's
one
through
mass
rehab.
They
can
help
to
pay
for
a
ramp.
So.
K
G
K
G
G
K
G
K
In
just
a
comment
for
you
to
keep
your
eye
on,
one
of
the
things
that
I
have
the
Cape
for
and
I
have
been
my
entire
time
on.
The
council
is
to
just
not
thinking
about
our
public
spaces
differently.
One
thing
that
I
helped
that
helped
my
parents,
as
they
age,
was
the
activity
that
was
around
being
involved
in
a
community.
So
we,
through
my
office,
have
advocated
for
senior
housing
above
libraries.
We
have
multiple,
multiple
libraries
being
talked
about
now
and
in
design
phase
and
field's
corner,
possibly
up
on
this
corner.
K
G
So
we
rebranded,
because
we
want
to
better
reflect
who
we
are
and
who
we
serve.
So
essentially
we
serve
people
from
the
ages
of
55
to
105
and
some
people
really
connected
with
the
word
elderly,
but
a
lot
of
our
constituents
didn't,
and
so
so
we
did
a
couple
of
things.
G
K
G
K
G
So
we
wanted
to
move
to
a
more
positive
frame
where
for
getting
older
and
then
we
actually
talked
to
our
constituents.
We
asked
people,
we
had
a
list
of
words
and
we
asked
folks
to
let
us
know
kind
of
what
words
resonated
with
them,
and
you
won't
be
surprised
that
strong
and
experienced
came
out
on
the
top
and.
E
G
K
G
G
C
J
Name
is
Karl
Beatty
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
rounding,
the
bases
rounding.
The
bases
is
one
of
the
one
of
the
sites
for
your
RSVP.
We've
been
affiliated
with
the
a
strong
Commission
for
about
five
years.
We
have
to
mo
use
in
effect
senior
Companion
program,
food
delivery
program.
Our
RSVP
volunteers,
have
served
in
tech,
goes
home,
computer
classes.
Since
2014
we
are
my
wife
and
I
vote
for
arrest
violent
ears
for
the
new
program.
The
thing
that
the
only
thing
that
I
find
that
that
I
don't
know
if
you
familiar
with
each
sack.
G
J
J
We
have
one
senior
that
they
went
and
that
a
lot
complete
their
application
for
a
city
application
for
a
walk-in
tub.
The
contractor
came
in
and
he
said
the
bathroom
wasn't
large
enough.
You
put
in
a
walk-in
shower.
He
didn't
both
the
seeped
into
the
studs
in
the
wall.
The
client
said
on
the
seat.
The
seat
came
loose,
she
fell,
hurt
herself,
oh,
we
have
a
walk-in
tub.
Our
bathroom
was
smaller
than
hers,
so
the
contractor
didn't
know
what
he
was
doing
when
somebody
signed
off
on
that
job
and
I.
J
When
I
went
when
I
went
back
to
East
sac,
we
assigned
the
MOU
in
December
with
them
to
do
as
a
kind
of
a
contractor.
Denham
did
watling's
said
one-one.
You
need
to
go
out
and
see
these
people.
No
we're
not
going
to
do
that.
This
person
somebody
signed
off
on
this.
You
need
to
make
this
right
for
this.
We
can't
do
that
and
they
didn't
want
their
client
to
take
another
loan
to
correct
the
problem
that
they
should
have
seen.
J
There's
a
number
of
client,
dear
clients
that
are
applied
to
the
state
program
that
were
getting
denied
because
the
children
were
only
deed
and
that,
once
again
nobody
went
to
see
these.
These
people
had
one
lady
that
that
applied
for
a
ramp,
oh
and
when
I
went
to
visit.
Her
I
found
I
found
a
woman
that
was
300-plus
pounds
that
had
been
beat
with
the
tire
iron
and
one
one
complete
side
of
her
body
was
shut
down
said
you
don't
want
me,
can
I
ask
you
a
question.
She
said
sure.
J
I
said:
how
do
you
make
out
getting
in
out
of
the
tub
I've
been
in
seven
three
months:
you
only
notice
if
you
go
to
visit
these
people.
This
is
not
a
job
that
you
can
do
sitting
in
your
office.
Iii
complete
her
applicatio
been
denied
because
she,
her
son,
was
one.
Indeed
we
did
our
application
submitted
it
to
this
the
state
and
it
was
approved.
J
C
G
And
I
should
just
add:
I'm
spoke
before
we
do
have
a
contract
with
East
sac.
We
contribute
some
to
the
senior
home
repair.
The
majority
of
the
of
it
is
paid
through
D&D.
The
state
program,
I
think
that's
being
referenced
is
a
separate
program.
The
city
has
its
own
rules
and
regulations
around
senior
home
repair
and
you're
right.
G
If,
if
the
house
is
not
in
the
name
of
the
older
adult
or
is
in
a
trust,
you
can't
access
senior
home
repair
services
but
I'm
happy
to
reach
out
to
eat,
Issa
and
and
talk
talked
to
them
over
there.
There
I,
you
know,
I,
think
that
a
lot
of
people
are
being
served
well
by
them
in
the
community,
but
but
I
understand
that
there
are
some
challenges
and
we'd
be
happy
to
talk
to
e
sack
and
and
work
with
with
Carl
and
I,
and
the
community
members
are
on
that
Thank.