Governor Healey Unveils New Veterans Home at Holyoke, Marking New Era of Veterans Care
New 234-bed facility builds on years of historic investments and major improvements in veterans care, safety and quality across Massachusetts
HOLYOKE— Governor Maura Healey today unveiled the new, state-of-the-art Veterans Home at Holyoke, marking a major milestone in the transformation of veterans care in Massachusetts. With this latest investment, both of Massachusetts’ state-operated Veterans Homes have modern facilities designed to deliver high-quality, personalized long-term care. The new facility will expand capacity to 234 beds and provide veterans with comfortable living spaces designed to promote independence and community.
Governor Healey was joined by First Lady Joanna Lydgate, Senator Edward J. Markey, U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal, Veterans Services Secretary Eric Goralnick, state and local officials, veterans, families and staff to celebrate the milestone. The ceremony included performances by the Holyoke High School band and Chicopee High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, a tribute to former residents and guided tours of the new facility overlooking the Pioneer Valley.
“From day one, we made a commitment to make Massachusetts the best state in the nation for veterans and military families. That meant rebuilding trust, strengthening care and making sure every veteran gets the dignity and respect they've earned,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We can never undo the tragedy that happened at Holyoke, but we can honor those we lost by making sure nothing like it happens again. Today, thanks to years of hard work by dedicated staff, families, advocates and union workers, we are delivering a beautiful new home and a new standard of care for our veterans. This is the promise we made, and it's the promise we're delivering on.”
“As the daughter of a Navy veteran, I know how important it is for families to have confidence that their loved ones are safe, respected and receiving the best possible care,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “From the start, our administration has made veterans and military families a priority, and we've backed up that commitment with investments in care, benefits and services. This new home is an important part of that work. It will give veterans the comfort, community and independence they deserve, and give the incredible staff at Holyoke a world-class facility to match the care they provide every day.”
The past, current, and future residents of the Holyoke Veterans Home made a commitment to put their lives on the line on behalf of our nation. It is our proud responsibility to ensure their care.” said Senator Edward J. Markey, “This facility, made possible through federal and state investment, constructed in partnership with local labor, and staffed by a dedicated medical and support team, stands as a beacon of our Commonwealth’s collective commitment to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans for generations to come.”
"Six years ago, we gathered outside the Holyoke Soldiers' Home after seventy-six veterans tragically lost their lives. At the time, we pledged to the families that their loved ones would not be forgotten and committed to delivering change—change that would deliver a home befitting the extraordinary service and sacrifice of our veterans and prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Today, after years of advocacy by elected leaders at all levels of government and, most importantly, the family members of residents both past and present, that promise has been fulfilled," said Congressman Richard E. Neal. "I would like to thank the former VA Secretary, Denis McDonough, who followed through on the federal government's commitment to building a new Holyoke Veterans' Home. While speaking with him on several occasions, I made clear the urgency of this project and the need to prioritize federal funding. He promised to do everything in his power to move Holyoke up the list, and boy did he deliver. To advocates, like former Superintendent Paul Barabani, whom I was only too pleased to host in Washington as he testified before the Veterans Affairs Committee on this very issue, and the families who never wavered in their advocacy, even in the face of unimaginable grief, thank you. This is your day, and I want to thank you on behalf of the United States of America."
“Today, we do more than open a building—we keep a promise,” said Veterans Services Secretary Eric Goralnick. “This new home stands as our commitment that every veteran who walks through these doors will receive the dignity, safety, and care they earned. Thank you to the healthcare workers, builders, community members, families, and veterans who have supported, and continue to support, this home's evolution to deliver high quality, safe, reliable care.”
“This state-of-the-art facility is the result of years of hard work and commitment,” said Veterans Home at Holyoke Executive Director Michael Lazo. “It reflects our mission to provide our veterans with care delivered with honor, dignity, and respect. I’m proud to see this project come to life.”
“Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care, dignity, and respect, and this new Veterans Home is representative of the Commonwealth’s deep commitment to that responsibility,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano. “I’m incredibly proud of the work that was done to make this new facility a reality, and to establish stronger oversight and accountability that will help to ensure that veterans in Massachusetts receive the high quality care that they deserve. I want to thank Governor Healey and her Administration for their partnership on this issue, and for working tirelessly to deliver for our veterans.”
“This is a promise fulfilled,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “Our service men and women deserve the very best care when they need it most. After it became clear that nothing about the status quo was working in Holyoke, our Legislature—led in large part by Senator John Velis and Senator Michael Rush—joined with this Administration and pledged that the residents of our Veterans Home would have nothing but the very best. This new building is a testament to the high regard that we all feel for our military veterans. Thank you to Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, Secretary Goralnick, and all the members of the Administration who helped to follow through.”
A New Home Designed Around Veterans
The new 350,000-square-foot Veterans Home at Holyoke replaces the original long-term care facility, which first opened in 1952, and expands capacity from 128 to 234 beds. The building features 212 private rooms with individual bathrooms, along with 11 double-occupancy rooms. Designed around the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' small-house model, the facility organizes living spaces into smaller, home-like communities with shared dining, living and gathering areas to promote independence, connection and personalized care.
The building also includes upgraded clinical and rehabilitation facilities, a dental suite, outdoor gardens and community spaces. A dedicated 30-bed memory care unit will provide specialized support for veterans with cognitive impairments.
A new Memorial Garden at the campus entrance will honor veterans who passed away at the Home, especially those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus will also feature additional outdoor spaces, including therapeutic gardens and walking areas, designed to support residents' physical and emotional well-being.
The facility was designed with sustainability and energy efficiency in mind, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, high-efficiency windows and building materials, and natural ventilation features.
Veterans and staff will transition into the new building in phases to ensure continuity of care and minimize disruptions. A second phase of the project will include a 40-person adult day health program to serve veterans living in the surrounding community, with full project completion anticipated in summer 2028.
The new Home was built under a project labor agreement with building trades unions, supporting good-paying construction jobs and creating opportunities for veterans, women, minority workers and apprentices. Construction has run ahead of schedule, with remaining work on the campus expected to be completed by summer 2028.
Building on a Historic Transformation in Veterans Care
The new building is the latest milestone in the Governor Healey’s transformation of care at the Veterans Home at Holyoke. Since taking office, the administration has strengthened leadership and oversight, modernized medical records, increased staffing, and improved clinical care and resident safety. These changes have helped rebuild trust with veterans and their families and put the Home among the strongest long-term care facilities in the nation.
Earlier this year, Governor Healey visited the Home to highlight significant improvements in care, safety and resident satisfaction. Registered nurse and certified nursing assistant staffing levels are now twice the national averages, while hospitalization and outpatient emergency room visit rates are approximately 46 percent below national averages. The Home has also expanded services for women veterans, eliminated the use of temporary agency staff and now relies on permanent employees, and strengthened safety practices. Holyoke and Chelsea have both achieved full state and federal licensure and certification from the Department of Public Health, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
These improvements reflect the administration's commitment to making lasting changes in how Massachusetts cares for veterans. Governor Healey established the Executive Office of Veterans Services as a cabinet-level secretariat in March 2023 to restore trust, strengthen accountability and ensure veterans and their families receive the care, benefits and support they have earned. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has opened a new Veterans Home at Chelsea, signed the HERO Act — the most comprehensive expansion of veterans benefits in Massachusetts history — and delivered a record $58.4 million in annual benefits to more than 23,300 disabled veterans, Gold Star families and surviving spouses in 2026.
The administration has also launched the End Veteran Homelessness initiative, which has helped house 1,782 veterans and family members, including 1,072 in permanent housing; expanded mental health and suicide prevention services; strengthened support for veterans navigating benefits; and invested in affordable housing and employment opportunities for veterans across Massachusetts.
Together, these efforts are helping Massachusetts deliver on its commitment to be the best state in the nation for veterans and military families, from expanding access to benefits and housing to providing the highest quality long-term care.
Statements of Support
State Senator John C. Velis, Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs:
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country and our Commonwealth, and they deserve nothing less than the very best when it comes to their care. Today is a culmination of years of work from so many state and federal partners, and years of advocacy from so many veterans and families, all to secure the resources. Seeing this project come to fruition is incredibly meaningful, because this has never just been about building a new facility. It’s about making sure the men and women who served our country are treated with the dignity, respect, and care they have earned.”
State Representative Joseph McGonagle, Jr., House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs:
“The opening of the new Veterans Home at Holyoke represents a significant investment in the care and well-being of the veterans who have served our Commonwealth and our country. I’m proud of the Legislature’s continued partnership in strengthening veterans services and ensuring that those who call this facility home receive the quality care, dignity, and respect they deserve. This new facility is an important step forward for veterans and their families across Western Massachusetts.”
State Representative Patricia Duffy:
“I have been watching this building rise from my own backyard. It marks one of the most meaningful transformations I have ever observed. It is the physical embodiment of our collective promise to these veterans and to this staff – they have the facility that they have always deserved. I am enormously proud to have played a part of securing the funding to make this possible and am looking forward to the visits and celebrations to come.”
Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia:
“This ribbon cutting marks an important milestone for Holyoke and the Commonwealth, reflecting a shared investment in our veterans and their well-being. We are proud to have this facility in our community and grateful to the veterans, their families, and the dedicated staff who fulfill its mission. Our veterans have given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve nothing less than our very best in return.”
Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts Labor Federation (AFL-CIO):
“The completion of the Holyoke Veterans Home is a profound accomplishment for Massachusetts — for our veterans and their families, for the union workers who make the Veterans Home run, and for the hundreds of union members from Western Massachusetts who built this world class facility. Built under a Project Labor Agreement, this project employed a highly trained, skilled workforce, leveraging our world-class apprenticeship programs and creating opportunities for underrepresented building trades workers, including veterans. We are honored to have been a part of the revitalization of this historic Veterans Home and look forward to continuing to invest in our communities through PLAs that deliver projects on time and under budget.”
Frank Callahan, President of Massachusetts Building Trades Unions:
“The men and women of the Building Trades are incredibly proud to have built this world class facility for our veterans, bringing their skills and training to bear to deliver this project ahead of schedule and on budget under a project labor agreement.”
Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Adam Baacke:
“This project is both a physical and metaphoric landmark, serving as a well-deserved tribute in appreciation of the service of our veterans and a prominent architectural beacon for Western Massachusetts. It is also a milestone in DCAMM's work to decarbonize state facilities as the largest project that is almost entirely fossil-fuel free on-site, and in the off-site production of the electricity that heats, cools, and powers the building.”
Robert Jerdan, Commander, American Legion Department of Massachusetts:
“The new Veterans Home at Holyoke will help continue the Commonwealth’s commitment to accessible, high-quality long-term care for veterans in Western Massachusetts. The state-of-the-art facility will ensure every veteran in Massachusetts’ care is treated with the dignity and honor they have earned through their service.”
Dennis Devine, Department Commander, DAV Department of Massachusetts:
“A veteran’s dignity must remain at the center of every decision about their care. The new Veterans Home at Holyoke represents an investment in that responsibility and in the families who entrust us with the well-being of their loved ones. DAV Department of Massachusetts welcomes this milestone and the commitment it represents to providing a place where veterans feel safe, respected, and truly at home.”
Craig DeOld, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Massachusetts Commander:
“This investment represents a meaningful commitment to honor our veterans and support their families for generations to come. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts is pleased the Commonwealth is now home to two state-of-the-art Veterans Homes in Chelsea and Holyoke, and what that will offer those who have sacrificed so much for our nation.”
Massachusetts Veterans’ Service Officers Association President Cory Hasselmann:
“Our veterans answered the call to serve, so when they come home to Massachusetts, it’s our duty to ensure they receive the same dedication from us that they demonstrated in uniform. The new Veterans Home at Holyoke is a testament to that commitment and shows that veterans in all regions of our state have access to the same high-quality care and support from the Commonwealth.”
Soldier On CEO and President Bruce Buckley:
“Soldier On is proud to celebrate the opening of this new, state-of-the-art long-term care facility dedicated to meeting veterans’ needs. Today’s milestone reflects the Commonwealth’s ongoing commitment to honoring those who have served with high-quality, compassionate care, and a dignified place to call home.”
Joesph J. Albanese, Chairman and CEO, Commodore Builders:
“As a veteran-owned company, serving those who served is a duty we take to heart. Our team approached this project with a deep sense of purpose: to create a home that provides veterans and their families with the dignity, comfort, and respect they truly deserve. Commodore Builders is proud to partner with the Commonwealth on this enduring endeavor.”
Richard Walsh, President and CEO, Walsh Brothers:
“The Commodore | Walsh Holyoke Joint Venture has been privileged to collaborate with the Commonwealth and the Veterans Home at Holyoke to deliver this beautiful new home so that our Veterans can receive the care they deserve with honor, dignity and respect.”
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