Mass. officials announce $6.7 million in ARPA grants to expand veteran outreach and housing placement

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced an administration allocation of $6,700,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to veteran-service organizations to expand the HOPE (Housing Outreach to Placement Effort) outreach and case-management program aimed at ending veteran homelessness in Massachusetts.

"Today, we take a big step forward in expanding this work and announcing the allocation of $6,700,000 in American Rescue Plan Federal funds to enhance outreach and case management services aimed at eradicating veteran homelessness right here in Massachusetts," Driscoll said, thanking nonprofit partners and local officials for their roles in outreach efforts.

Secretary of Veteran Services John Santiago framed the award as one element of a larger strategy. "We are investing $20,000,000 to end veteran homelessness," Santiago said, describing a five‑pillar plan that pairs outreach with housing and supportive services. He said the HOPE grants support person‑to‑person outreach to find veterans in communities and connect them to permanent housing and supportive care.

Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus described the announcement as a "first tranche" intended to meet veterans "where they are," emphasizing coordination between housing production and wraparound services. "This first tranche of money ... is making sure we're meeting the veterans where they are, dealing with the unique challenges, traumas ... and then building that relationship with them so that we can connect them with services," Augustus said.

State and nonprofit leaders named the organizations the administration said would receive awards, including Volunteers of America (VOA) Massachusetts, New England Center and Home for Veterans, Soldier On, ClearPath for Veterans New England, Veterans Inc., and the Cape and Islands Veterans Center. Officials said the grants will fund outreach workers, peer support, case management and other services to move veterans into stable housing.

Charles Gagnon, who introduced veteran participants on behalf of VOA, described the group’s model of "whole‑person care." "Care today, opportunity tomorrow," Gagnon said, crediting integrated services with helping veterans secure housing, treatment and employment. Melvin Blanchard, a Vietnam veteran and VOA program participant, described decades of homelessness and said VOA staff helped him access medical care, prosthetic services and housing: "I'm just full of gratitude," he said.

Officials did not provide a detailed timeline for when the awards will be distributed to each nonprofit or a line‑by‑line budget breakdown at the event. Speakers also used slightly different figures during remarks: an early speaker referenced $7,000,000 in ARPA funding, while multiple cabinet officials described the allocation as $6,700,000; Santiago separately described a broader $20,000,000 commitment to end veteran homelessness. Event materials and follow‑up releases should clarify the exact award amounts and distribution schedule.

The announcement follows an administration push, first described as launched in March, to coordinate housing, services and legislative changes through proposals such as the HERO Act. Officials said the HOPE grants are intended to be an on‑the‑ground complement to housing production and wider investments the administration is pursuing.

The administration invited attendees to stay involved and offered tours of VOA’s Mass Bay Veterans Center; officials said they will continue coordinating with cities, towns and nonprofits as grants are deployed.