By Tiffany Williams –
In Hyannis, Massachusetts on Monday, Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center (CIVOC).
Secretary Santiago toured the Center’s transitional supportive housing. Joined by the Center’s executive director James Seymour and State Senator Julian Cyr.
During his visit Secretary Santiago expressed support for the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s FY24 H.1 budget proposal and for the Center’s work in providing comprehensive integrative care to the region’s veterans.
CIVOC says “Veterans living on the Cape and Islands make up 6% of the total veteran population of the Commonwealth. With almost 19,000 veterans, one in nine residents of the Cape and Islands is a veteran. The Cape and Islands hosts a disproportionate share of homeless veterans, with 21% of the total homeless veteran population. In FY23, CIVOC’s Food Pantry served 5,742 veterans, an increase of 117% over last year. CIVOC also provided 1,097 rides this year to veterans through its Veterans Transportation program.”
“Under Jim’s leadership, the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center is instrumental for providing access to critical services that enable veterans to maintain independent, sustainable living. We are grateful for their continued partnership and creative approach to helping address veteran housing and food insecurity,” said Secretary Santiago. “With the proposed increased funding for veterans’ services proposed by Governor Maura Healey, we can better serve veterans and strengthen collaborative partnerships with veterans’ organizations here on the Cape and Islands, as well as across the Commonwealth.”
“I’m thrilled that Secretary Santiago was able to visit Cape Cod so early in his tenure. This visit marks Secretary Santiago’s commitment to understanding the needs of veterans in the Commonwealth, and I’m thankful for his partnership,” said Senator Julian Cyr.
“We are honored to have Secretary Santiago visit the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center so quickly after his appointment by Governor Healey. We are eager to share the promising results that our partnership with the Commonwealth has enabled. We are eager to continue and expand our partnership with the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services to serve our veteran clients each day here on the Cape & Islands,” said James Seymour, Executive Director of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center.”
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