Politics & Government
State Leader Visits Somerville Veterans Center
The visit came as officials continue working with community organizations to expand access to housing and health care across the state.
SOMERVILLE, MA — Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services Dr. Eric Goralnick visited the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center recently.
The Somerville facility is operated by Volunteers of America of Massachusetts.
Goralnick toured the center and met with staff during his visit on Wednesday, July 22. The group discussed the work being done at the facility and its role serving veterans in the area.
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The Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center provides housing, employment assistance, medical and behavioral health treatment, community reintegration, life skills training, and access to Veterans Affairs benefits and other resources. The center also offers case management and workforce development programs aimed at helping veterans secure permanent housing and long-term stability.
The center opened in 2014 and serves veterans from Somerville and surrounding communities. It is one of several veteran programs operated by Volunteers of America of Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support services across the state.
Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Goralnick was appointed secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans Services by Gov. Maura Healey in January. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and emergency physician who previously served as medical director of Emergency Preparedness at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He also founded Brigham and Women's Hospital's Center for Surgery and Public Health's Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Program and has worked on emergency response efforts at the local, state and national levels.
The Executive Office of Veterans Services became a cabinet-level agency in 2023 after Healey signed legislation elevating the former Department of Veterans' Services. The office oversees veterans benefits, advocacy, financial assistance, outreach programs and the state's veterans homes in Chelsea and Holyoke. It also works with municipalities, veterans organizations and nonprofit groups to connect veterans and their families with state and federal resources.
Volunteers of America of Massachusetts has provided services in the state for more than a century. In addition to veteran programs, the organization operates housing, behavioral health, family support and reentry programs for individuals and families across Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center serves as one of its primary locations for veteran services.
The visit came as state officials continue working with community organizations to expand access to housing, behavioral health care and other services for veterans across Massachusetts.
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