For the record, my name is Brian Worrell, District 4 city councilor, and I'm the chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means, said Chair Brian Worrell as he opened the May 28 hearing on the FY26 budgets for the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Services and Age Strong.

The city’s veteran services commissioner told the committee that Massachusetts General Laws chapter 115 is the primary safety net the Office of Veterans Services (OVS) administers, but state eligibility rules leave many veterans who need help disqualified. “We actively engage with military service members, our veterans, and also their families, and also survivors ensuring that they are connected to the benefits, services, and resources that they have rightfully earned,” Commissioner Santiago said in the presentation.

Why it matters: Chapter 115 provides a legally required municipal benefit, but municipalities are bound by state eligibility thresholds (including a 20% of the federal poverty level test, as OVS summarized). The council and several speakers said that threshold is low for Boston’s costs of living and that local grants and a new “bridge the gap” line will be needed to help veterans who fall above the chapter 115 cutoff.

Key facts and program details

- OVS staff: Commissioner Santiago said the office has a team of 15 with one vacancy and recently hired a deputy commissioner, Jared Estrada, and a director of policy and outreach, Ethan Bridges.

- Chapter 115 limits: The commissioner described Chapter 115 eligibility rules including minimum active‑duty service periods and income/asset tests; the state’s poverty threshold for municipal Chapter 115 payouts was cited as a principal constraint on access.

- Bridge the gap and grants: The office started a “bridge the gap” program in February 2024 to assist veterans who do not meet Chapter 115 limits. Commissioner Santiago said the city allocated $400,000 for that program and the recent mini‑grant cycle drew 43 applications requesting roughly $428,000; awards were “in process” at the time of the hearing.

- Hero Squares and banners: OVS described its Hero Squares program—permanent markers and biography plaques that honor service members killed in action—and a proposed Heroes Banner program open to veterans and currently being designed as a community‑run application process. The commissioner estimated an initial community rollout would cost roughly $10,000 per neighborhood to install hardware and banners, with lower recurring costs afterward.

Public comments and council discussion

Speakers at the hearing — including veterans advocates and veterans themselves — urged more local funding, better access to mental‑health and food supports, and easier pathways to VA benefits. Haywood (a veteran speaker) urged “more money” for the commission and said local recovery centers are needed. Councilor Ed Flynn told the room he planned to propose shifting $1 million to the veterans budget through the council’s amendment process.

Councilors also pressed OVS on how the office helps veterans who report discrimination or difficulty accessing VA services. The commissioner described local efforts to partner with nonprofits and to use grants and the bridge program to fill gaps when federal benefits are delayed or inaccessible.

Discussion versus decision

This hearing produced no vote or ordinance. Council discussion included policy questions and budget priorities; Councilor Flynn said he intended to seek a budget amendment to add funds for veterans, but no formal motion was made on the record during this session.

What to watch next

OVS told the council that state rules for Chapter 115 and federal VA funding changes could affect demand for city services. The council and the commissioner signaled they will continue to pursue local flexible funding and targeted grants to cover veterans who do not qualify for Chapter 115.

Ending note

The committee heard multiple requests to expand local flexibility for veteran assistance and to protect outreach and mental‑health programs if federal or VA funding is cut. Commissioner Santiago closed by urging continued partnership between the city, community organizations and the council to ensure veterans can access benefits and supports.