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Veterans services seeks to finish veterans‑home modernizations; director warns 988 cuts could harm veterans
Summary
Director Deborah Ashenhurst outlined the Department of Veterans Services’ biennial budget, updated the committee on a $183 million modernization project for two veterans homes (state and federal funds combined) and urged consideration of reductions to the 988 suicide‑prevention line item that she said could harm veterans.
Deborah (Debbie) Ashenhurst, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (DVS), told the Government Oversight and Reform Committee that nearly 90% of the department’s budget supports operations of the Ohio Veterans Homes in Sandusky and Georgetown and provided an update on a federally‑supported modernization effort.
Ashenhurst said the state allocated $65 million in the prior biennium to modernize the two long‑term care facilities, which helped secure an approximately $118 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for a combined project budget of about $183 million. She said design development is nearing completion, early site preparation and utility work is underway at Sandusky and some structural work has begun at Georgetown so the projects can move to full construction once federal funds are released.
The modernization aims to transition skilled‑nursing units to single‑occupancy rooms, improve infection control and update facilities. Ashenhurst said Sandusky’s campus was built in 1888 and has more than 600 beds; Georgetown has roughly 168 beds.
On other programs, Ashenhurst described workforce initiatives, county veteran service officer certification (nearly 750 county officers across 88 counties) and outreach work with JobsOhio to recruit separating service members into Ohio careers. She closed by raising a concern about a House cut to funding for the statewide 988 suicide‑prevention hotline, stating the reduction — which she said exceeded $30 million — could have “serious impacts” on crisis response for veterans and all Ohioans. She asked the committee to consider the effect of 988 cuts as it continues budget deliberations.
Ranking Member Weinstein and Vice Chair Brenner thanked Ashenhurst for the testimony, asked follow‑ups about federal funding timing and possible actions to expedite federal grant release and were told DVS is actively pursuing federal engagement and site readiness to keep the projects on track.
Ashenhurst also noted she will retire the day after the hearing and thanked the committee for support for veterans.
