ADAM: TONIGHT ON "TALKING POLITICS" KATY LANNAN SAT DOWN WITH VETERAN SERVICES JON SANTIAGO TO TALK ABOUT REBUILDING TRUST IN THE AGENCY AND EFFORTS TO REFORM THE HOLYOKE SOLDIER'S HOME AFTER LEADERSHIP FAILURES LED TO DEADLY COVID OUTBREAKS THERE BUT FIRST IMMIGRATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRIGGER BREAK.

BUT IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE TO EVERYONE MIGRANTS AND THE BORDER ARE PARTICULARLY HIGH.

AND MASSACHUSETTS KEEPS GETTING DRAGGED INTO THE NATIONAL DEBATE.

THAT'S THANKS IN PART TO RON DESANTIS WHO IS THREATSENING TO FLY MORE MIGRANTS FROM HIS STATE AND TO THE RECENT ALEDGED RAPE OF TEAM AGER IN ROCKLIN.

THAT'S ADDING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON GOVERNOR HEALEY.

WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THIS DEBATE FOR LOCAL POLITICIANS AND THE MIGRANTS CAUGHT UP IN IT ALL.

JOINING ME IS SAMANTHA GROSS AND EDMUNDO "BOSTON GLOBE"."

LET ME START WITH YOU.

THERE ARE SOME CHANGES AFOOT THAT WILL AFFECT THE WAY MIGRANTS COMING TO MASSACHUSETTS ARE HOUSED AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET EMERGENCY HOUSING.

THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO CREATE A NINE-MONTH CAP IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU CAN STAY IN THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HOUSING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES MIGRANTS AND NONMIGRANTS.

THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT FOR THE OVERFLOW SIGHTS LEAK THE SHELTER, MIGRANT WHO ARE STAYING THERE ARE GOING TO NEED TO PROVE ON A MONTHLY BASIS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR JOBS, LOOKING FOR HOUSING, AND LEARNING ENGLISH IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR SPOTS.

I KNOW YOU TALK A LOT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES TO MIGRANTS.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THESE CHANGES AND PROPOSED CHANGES?

>> YEAH, IT'S A REALLY BIG CHANGE.

WOULD BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND SINCE THE LAW WENT INTO LAW DECADES AGO.

THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT POLITICIANS ARE IN A TOUGH PLACE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO CHERYL FOLKS AND TO KEEP THE PROGRAM RUNNING AS IT IS BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY WORRY THAT NINE MONTHS IS TOO SHORT TO, YOU KNOW, GET PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO GET ON THEIR FEET, TO GET ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS, TO FIND HOUSE HOUSING.

RIGHT NOW THE AVERAGE STAY CAN BE AS LONG AS 14 MONTHS OR MORE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WHO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES WORRY THAT AT NINE MONTHS PEOPLE WILL EXIT THE PROGRAM SO THEY CAN REENTER IT, A PROBLEM THAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> ADAM: HOW ARE THEY REACTING TO THE CHANGES THEY'RE MAKEING?

>> THOSE ARE NATURAL CHANGES BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE MORE PRAGMATIC CHANGES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FOLKS ARE BEING INTEGRATE INTO SEW.

YOU HAVE ALMOST HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE THIS STATUS AND THEY'RE GETTING ALL OF THIS HUMANITARIAN AID THROUGH THIS PAROLE PROGRAM AND HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS WE'RE VERY GENEROUS.

BUT THERE'S A LAYER OF IMMIGRANT WHO IS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS, REALLY UNDOCUMENTED BUT ALMOST SAME -- FROM VERY SIMILAR COUNTRIES FLEEING ALMOST THE EXACT SAME SITUATION BUT HAVING HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE STATUS WHERE THEY HAVEN'T HAD ALL OF THESE BENEFITS.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RESENTMENT FROM THE IMMIGRANTS TO THE NULLLY ARRIVED IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANTS.

ADAM: YOU'RE TALK PEOPLE FROM WHAT COUNTRYIES?

THE NEW ARIVALS WERE HATEY >> HAITI, VENEZUELA, NICARAGUA, AND ONE MORE -- BUT JUST SALVADORIANS, CUBAN WHO IS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS, VENEZUELA IS A BIG ONE, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUMBER, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

THERE'S THIS KIND OF TWO LEVELS OR TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF UNDOCUMENTED OR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THEIR PROGRESS.

AND I COMMEND THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO INTEGRATE THESE FOLKS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

BUT YOU'VE GOT THIS WHOLE SWATH OF OTHER IMMIGRANTS WHO SAY I DON'T HAVE MY WORK PAPERS.

I'VE BEEN CONTRIBUTING.

ADAM: THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

SAMANTHA, I MENTIONED THAT THERE'S THIS VERY UNPLEASANT, ALLEGEDDINESS DEPARTMENT IN ROCKLIN IN WHICH A MIGRANT FROM HAITI WHO IS A KUZED OF RAPING A -- ACCUSED OF RAPING A GIRL WHO IS 15 YEARS OLD GOVERNOR HEALEY WAS ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE RAPE.

HE SAID THE MAN HAD COME ON A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

SHE CALLED THE ALLEGED INCIDENT TERRIBLE AND HORRIBLE.

BUT SHE ALSO SAID WHEN SHE WAS ASKED IF SHE CAN KEEP THIS SORT OF THING FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME THINGS WILL HAPPEN.

AND KELLY AYOCK MADE IT PART OF HER CAMPAIGN PITCH AGAINST HER OPPONENT WHO HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY MAURA HEALEY.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK HOW SHE FRAMED THIS WHEN SHE WAS TALKING TO A RADIO HOST.

>> I WAS THE FORMER PROSECUTOR, WHEN YOU SAY THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME THINGS HAPPEN ABOUT RAPE, ESPECIALLY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE IN OUR COUNTRY, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

AND MY OPPONENT JOYCE CRAIG HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY MAURA HEALEY.

SO I ASKED HER, YOU KNOWERS WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HER -- YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HER STATEMENT?

AND DON'T YOU THINK YOU SHOULD DENOUNCE HER ENDORSEMENT?

AND I HEARD CRICKETS.

ADAM: ARE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE A SELECTED PART OF LAURA HEALEY'S STATEMENT INTO THIS RAPE AND FOLDED BY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE?

>> I WOULD NOT SAY IT'S SURPRISING.

INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ARE OFTEN POLITICIZED.

THIS IS NOT A NEW DYNAMIC.

I THINK IN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE IT'S SEEN AS THIS LIBERAL BASTION LIKE THE RIGHT TO SHELTER LAWS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, STAY -- THAT GETS POLITICIZED.

IT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WHEN RON DESANTIS FLEW MANY MIGRANTS FROM TEXAS TO MASSACHUSETTS AND SAID YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SHELTER.

TAKE THAT.

THE SIMP -- THE SITUATION IN ROCKLIN HAPPENED.

DONALD TRUMP SENT A FUNDRAISING STATEMENT ABOUT IT.

AND EVEN OUR LOCAL G.O.P.

SENT A STATEMENT ABOUT IT.

IT'S A HORRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED.

I WENT TO ROCKLIN AND SPOKE TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT HOTEL.

IT'S A REALLY AWFUL THING BUT IT DOES SEEM WHEN THESE THINGS DO HAPPEN IT DOES GET POLITICIZED.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME THAT KELLY SAID THAT AND THAT MAURA HEALEY IS GETTING A LOT OF FLAK FOR HER STATEMENT.

WITH A SITUATION LIKE THIS IT'S HARD TO SAY THE RIGHT THING.

BUT, YEAH YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS SITUATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE POLITICIZEED, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CYCLE.

ADAM: ALBERTO, SAMANTHA MENTIONED DONALD TRUMP.

HE CONVINCED REPUBLICANS NOT TO PASS A BORDER DEAL THAT HE FELT COULD HELP PRESIDENT BIDEN POLITICALLY.

HE HAS CONTINUALLY TALKED ABOUT MIGRANTS IN INCENDIARY DEHUMANIZING TERMS.

THE QUOTE THAT STANDS OUT FOR ME IS HIS ASSERTION THAT THEY ARE POISONING THE BLOOD OF THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE RESONATEING WITH A PORTION OF THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE.

THERE'S A POLL THAT UMASS DID WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED DO THEY BELIEVE IF THE IMMIGRANTS WERE POISONING THE BLOOD OF THE COUNTRY?

32% SAID THEY WERE.

AND WHEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED IN A DIFFERENT WAY, DO YOU BELIEVE A RISE IN IMMIGRANTS ENDANGERS AMERICAN CULTURE?

55% SAID YES.

29 OF INDEPENDENTS AND 20% OF DEMOCRATS.

HOW DANGEROUS DO YOU THINK THE FOREMAN PRESIDENT'S RHETORIC IS ON THE TOPIC?

>> IT IS IN THE SENSE THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS THE ONE LISTENING TO THIS.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO TO THE ACTUAL GROUPS, RIGHT?

IF YOU ASK LATINOS ARE THEY OFFENDED AND THEN YOU SEE DONALD TRUMP DOING BETTER WITHIN THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF VOTERSHIP THAN HE DID BEFORE, THEY JUST HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES WHITE AMERICA GETS MORE OFFENDED FOR THE GROUP THAT -- THAT THEY'RE DEFENDING THAN THE ACTUAL GROUP.

>> YOU DON'T HEAR PEOPLE TAKING REAL UMBRAGE?

>> NO BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND DONALD TRUMP'S STRATEGY, HIS VERBIAGE, HIS WHOLE STYLE.

AND I'M SHOCKED.

SHOCKED AT THE AMOUNT OF LATINO WHO IS VOTED FOR BIDEN SAY THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR TRUMP THIS YEAR.

AND THIS IS IN THE THE BUMP OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IF I GO DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA, IT'S EVEN MORE RABID, THE SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP WITHIN CERTAIN LATINO GROUPS.

WHEN HE SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT BECAUSE LATINOS AREN'T THRONG THAT -- LISTENING TO THAT PAR.

ADAM: SAMANTHA, YOU SPENT TIME WITH THE MIGRANTS.

TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE RHETORIC THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN DISCUSSING ON THEIR RADAR?

IF YOU GO TO A PLACE LIKE THE SHELLER IN ROCKLIN OR ANYONE ONE OF THESE OVERFLOW SIGHTS, ARE THEY AWARE THAT THIS DISCOURSE IS OUT THERE?

>> I THINK THEY'RE AWARE IN THE WAY THAT IT FILTERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT RHETORIC FROM DONALD TRUMP GETS PEOPLE GOING WHO AREN'T IMMIGRANTS FOR EXAMPLE AND THEY ARE THE ONE WHO ARE SHOWING UP AT, YOU KNOW, SHELTER SIGHTS, PROTESTING, SHOWING UP AT GOVERNOR HEALEY'S HOUSE PROTESTING THE SHELTER SITUATION.

AND I THINK, THE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE SHELTERS ARE LIVING THAT AND THEY SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE VIEW THEM AS A THREAT.

BUT I HAVEN'T HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM WHERE THEY SPECIFICALLY BRING UP, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP'S COMMENTS.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE RHETORIC FILTERS DOWN FOR SURE.

>> JUST BRIEFLY, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU.

WE ARE IN A MOMENT GIVEN THE MIGRANT CRISIS IN MASSACHUSETTS, MASSACHUSETTS'S ROLL IN THE POLITICAL IMAGINATION, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE UNDER A MICROSCOPE DURING THE ELECTION AND MAYBE EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> YEAH, BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY SOONER OR LATER.

IT'S COSTING $50 MILLION TO $75 MILLION.

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT MONEY TO CONTINUE?

BECAUSE AS SAMANTHA SAID, NINE MONTHS IS NOT GOING TO BE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING GOING TO BE INTEGRATED IN NINE MONTHSES.

>> DO YOU SEE THIS CONTINUING?

>> I DO.

ESPECIAL THINK COMPOUNDING ISSUE THAT IS MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GET ON THEIR FEET IN GENERAL RIGHT NOW, THE MORE PEOPLE THAT THAT COME IN THE MORE THE STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM AND AS -- AS A WREATH RIGHT TO SHELTER STATE MASSACHUSETTS IS UNIQUE IN THAT WAY AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE AN EXAMPLE.

ADAM: SAMANTHA GROSS, ALBERTO, WE APPRECIATE FOR YOU BEING HERE.

>> JOHN SANTIAGO WAS SWORN AS THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIR ONE YEAR AGO.

THE EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN AND ARMY RESERVE CERTAINLY SAT -- COLONEL SAT DOWN WITH US.

>> WE MARK ONE YEAR IN THIS NEW ROLE FOR YOU.

WHAT'S YOUR FIRST YEAR BEEN LIKE ON THE JOB?

>> IT'S BAN WHIRLWIND, TRANSFORMATIVE, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING DO BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS MOVING FOR WAR.

>> THIS IS SHORTLY AFTER YOU WERE SWORN IN.

YOU SAID ONE OF YOUR GOALS WAS TO REBUILD TRUST IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IT BEING A START-UP AND A TURNAROUND.

WHERE ARE THINGS NOW IN THAT TURNAROUND?

WHAT'S THE -- I DON'T KNOW TRUST METER THAT YOU'VE SEEN?

>> WELL, WITHOUT QUESTION THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF VETERAN SERVICES REALLY CAME OUT OF A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ELEVATEED THIS POSITION A CABINET LEVEL PARTLY BECAUSE THE VETERAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING THIS FOR A LONG TIME BUT ALSO FOR WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID.

100 VETERANS DIED TRAGICALLY AT HOLYOKE AND AT CHELSEA.

THAT IS RESPONSE TO THAT.

A BIG PART OF WHAT HAPPENED WAS A LOSS OF TRUST IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY IN HOLYOKE AND AT CHELSEA.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

AS A PHYSICIAN THAT WORKED DURING ITS ENTIRE TICKETS I HAD A FIRST-TIME GLIMPSE INTO IT.

I MET WITH THE STAFF, THE VETERANS, THE FAMILIES TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR TRAUMA.

AND SO THE FIRST YEAR WAS REALLY ABOUT CREATE AGRICULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, STREAMLINING EFFORTSES MAKING IT MORE EFFICIENT, MAKING SURE THAT THE VETERANS AND STAFF KNOW THAT WE AND STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE THEIR BACK.

>> AND THERE WAS THE KIND OF BLISTERING SERIES OF REPORTS FAULTING THE SERIES OF DECISIONS MADE IN THE HOLYOKE SOLDIERS' HOME THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEADLY OUTBREAK THERE.

WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE THEN REGARDING THE STANDARDS OF CARE OR THE PROTOCOLS AROUND THINGS LIKE INFECTION CONTROL?

>> WEEING SO TO STANDARDIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE THE ENTIRE SEASON WORKING CLOSE WITH D.P.H.

WE HAVE LEADERSHIP IN PLACE WITH MIKE LAZO AT HOLYOKE WE JUST HAD CHRISTINE BALDINI, 25 YEARS OF NURSING HOME EXPERIENCE, REALLY A LEADER ACROSS THE STATEMENT WE'VE PUT THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS AND AER PLACE.

WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE.

REALLY CLOSELY WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING SAFE PRACTICES AND MAKING SURE THE EXPERIENCE IN THE STAFF AND FROM THE VETERAN IS EXEMPLARY.

>> SO MAYBE IF YOU'RE A -- IF YOU'RE A VETERAN LIVING IN ONE O THOSE HOMES, WHAT'S DIFFERENT NOW VERSUS FOUR YEARS AGO OR BEFORE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF REGULATORY THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT AS A PAR OF00 THESE HOMES HAVE TO BE LICENSED.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH D.P.H.

WE'VE DONE THAT AT CHELSEA.

WE'RE WORK ON IT AT HOLYOKE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE HOMES BUT ALSO OUTSIDE THE HOMES IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFERS IT'S BEEN ABOUT ENGAGEMENT.

AND THAT STARTS WITH LISTENING BECAUSE TO ME WHATEVER CAREER I'VE HAD BEFORE IF WE TRY TO BE A LEADER THAT'S ALWAYS STARTED WITH LISTENING.

SO GOING NEAR THE HOMES FIRST WEEKS INTO THIS OFFICE SPENDING TIME THERE AT CHELSEA AND HOLYOKE LISTENING TO THE VETERANS, THRONG THE STAFF THERE TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS REALLY PUTTING IN A LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE THAT IS GOING TO HOLD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

>> AS WE'RE TALK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AT THESE HOMES, WE DID SEE JUST THIS WEEK TWO OF THE FORMER OFFICIALS AT HOLYOKE SETTLED THERE NEGLECT CASE IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO NOT FACE ANY JAIL TIME DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE RIGHT OUTCOME THERE?

>> WELL, I'M NOT A JUDGE.

I DON'T PRACTICE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSIONAL.

ALL I KNOW AS A PHYSICIAN I'M COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS.

WE'RE GLAD THAT THIS CHAPTER IS CLOSE AND WE PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD THIS.

WE'RE EXCITED BOTH HOMES ONE OF WHICH HAS BEEN REBUILT AND OCCUPIED RIGHT NOW IN CHELSEA AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SECURE A BRAND-NEW HOME AT HOLYOKE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IN AUGUST WAS TO MEET WITH FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAD LOST LOVED ONES.

THE GOVERNOR WAS THERE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS THERE TO SAY WE'RE DOING THIS FOR YOU.

WE'RE INVESTING THIS MONEY, IMPROVEING SERVICE, INCREASING SERVICES TO HONOR THE FAMILY THAT IS LOST A LOVED ONE BUT THOSE THAT ARE DONELY THERE.

>> AS YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE FAMILIES ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT AS THEY WATCH THIS SYSTEM THAT IT'S GOING CONTRIBUTE TO THAT LACK OF TRUST THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING TO REBUILD?

>> WELL, I'M SURE A PIECE OF THEIR HEART WAS LOST WHEN THEY LOVED ONE WENT, AND WE CAN NEVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THEM AND BRING THEM BACK.

BUT WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ENGAGED AND THE VETERANS THAT ARE STILL THERE AND THE FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL INVOLVED WITH HOLYOKE ARE STILL LIVING THERE, THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE CARE THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING.

I'M EXCITED THAT SUPERINTENDENT LAZO'S LEADERSHIP THAT WE'RE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

LET ME JUST SAY COVID WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US, RIGHT?

WE HAVE TOOLS, ANTIVIRALS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF IT THAT WE ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM 2020.

I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS FOLKS WERE SCARED.

RIGHTLY SOME OF I WAS ONE OF THOSE FOLKS.

BUT WE'VE CHANGED SO MUCH IN TERMS OF HOW WE PRACTICE, HOW WE EDUCATE EACH OTHER.

AND WE'VE INSTITUTED THOSE THINGS AT BOTH HOMES TO MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE.

I'M CONFIDENT ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE, MAKE IT A SAFER PLACE AN TO SUPPORT OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.

>> ANOTHER FORMER ROLE THAT YOU'VE PLAYED IS AS A STATE LAWMAKER.

AND YOU'VE HAD THE CHANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF AND SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF SOME LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNOR HEALEY HAS FILED DOVED THE HERO ACT.

THAT WE'VE MODERNIZED VETERAN'S BENEFITS AND SERVICE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THE NEED FOR A BILL LIKE THIS?

>> WE LOOKED AT 50 STATES, 40 STATES, RATHER.

WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN SERVICES?

WHAT ARE OTHER STATES DOING?

HOW CAN WE BRING THOSE PRACTICES HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS THE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO VETERAN SERVICES?

WHAT I'VE COME TO LEARN DURING MY TIME HERE FOUNDATIONALLY THERE WERE SOME STRONG PROGRAMMING THERE, RIGHT?

BUT WITH COVID AND THE EXPERIENCE AT HOLYOKE AND CHELSEA TALK ME WAS THAT WHEN THE SITUATION AT CHELSEA RESULTED IN THE TRAGIC DEATHS OF 100-PLUS VETERANS THAT THOSE ISSUES THAT LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY DIDN'T JUST COST AT THE HOMES THAT THEY INFILTRATEED OTHER PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE TO RENNIN VENT HOW TO UNDER GO OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AT THE VET REASONS SERVICES.

WE HAVE TO BE JUST AS DILIGENT WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING THE PROGRAM, FOSTERING, GROWTH, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGEED.

THAT'S HA THE HERO ACT IS A PART O.

WE SAW A VARIETY OF GAPS.

WE SOUGHT TO MODERNIZE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

WE SOUGHT TO INCREASE BENEFITS AND PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO INCLUSIVITY WHICH I CARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GOVERNORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

AS YOU KNOW A VARIETY OF -- WOMEN ARE THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP IN TERMS OF VETERANS.

YOU HAVE VETERANS OF COLOR WHO ARE OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED IN THE PAST FOR GENDER OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THOSE FOLKS ARE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED.

AND WE PUT FORTH THE HERO ACT, 17 PROPOSALS AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE IT GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

WE HAVE FULL FAITH IN THAT PROCESS WITH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE CHAIR CASSIDY AND CHAIR VI -- BILAS TO SUPPORT A BILL BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.

>> I KNOW A THING THAT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF THE LEGISLATURE'S ATTENTION IS THE SITUATION AROUND SHELTER CAPACITY AND THE INFLUX NEW IMMIGRANTS AND OTHER HOMELESS FAMILIES.

IT'S ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THE FORMER CHELSEA HOME BUILDING WILL BE USED AS AN OVERFLOW SHELTER SIGHT SYSTEM THAT GOING TO AFFECT CARE OR OPERATIONS IN CHELSEA AT ALL?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, NOT AT ALL.

OPERATIONS, THE VETERANS AT THE HOME AND THE VETERANS AT THE DOMICILERY AS WELL.

THIS SITUATION IS A CHALLENGING ONE, THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THIS IS ONE THAT WE HAD MASTERED THIS FOR DECADES.

WE'RE AT CAPACITY HERE.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SENSIBLE IN TERMS OF CRAFTING IT PRAGMATIC AND EMPATHETIC TO THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM OTHER PARSE OF THE WORLD HERE.

THERE IS A BUILDING -- PARTS OF THE WORLD HERE.

THERE'S A BUILDING THAT IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE DEMOLISHED OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR OR SOME OF AND IT IS NOW GOING TO BE USED TO HOUSE EMERGENCY SYSTEM FAMILIES, PREGNANT WOMEN AND FOLKS THAT ARE OVERFLOW SIGHT THAT IS ARE TYPICALLY -- YOU'VE SEEN IT IN ROXBURY AND CAMBRIDGE.

>> AS WE'VE SEEN THIS SITUATION CONTINUE TO UNFOLD IN THE FAMILY SCHELLER SYSTEM, THE HEALEY ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO LOOKING TO RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE AIMING AT ENDING VET ANSWER HOMELESSNESS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHAT KIND OF EFFORT IS THAT GOING TO SNAKE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BETTER -- GOING TO TAKE.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PRETTY BIG ROLE.

>> THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE VISIONARYIES.

HOW CAN WE ADDRESS HOUSING?

THE NUMBER ONE CRISIS WE'RE HAVING IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

IRRESPECTIVE OF WHERE YOU LIVE IN STATE GOVERNMENT WE OPERATE VETERANS' SECRETARY.

SOME MAY ASK WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH HOUSEING?

A WHOLE LOT.

NOW, OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO THAT NUMBER HAS DWINDLED DOWN.

THEY STILL EXIST.

IF YOU LOOK A THE DATA FROM THE ANNUAL ONCE A YEAR ACCOUNT, THERE'S STILL ABOUT 500 OR 600 VETERANS THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THEY HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD TODAY BUT LOOKING FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.

THERE ARE SUPPLY ISSUES AS WE KNOW.

SO GOVERNOR HEALEY TAXED ALL THE SECRETARIES TO WORK TOGETHER.

SO EARLY ON IN MY TENURE AS SECRETARY, WE GOON PUT IDEAS TOGETHER ALONGSIDE SECRETARY AUGUSTUS TO ADDRESS VETERANS HOMELESSNESS.

IT'S A FIVE-PILLAR PLAN.

WE FOCUSED ON DIRECT OUTREACH TO VETERANS COORDINATING EFFORTS ACROSS STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, INFORMING IN SOME SHORT CAPITAL NEEDS THAT ARE REQUIRED, BUT REALLY MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS FEEL COORDINATED AND ENGAGE BECAUSE THERE ARE A VARIETY OF SERVICES, RESOURCE THAT IS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT IF WE BETTER ALLOCATE THEM, BETTER COORDINATE THEM ACROSS THE SYSTEM, WE WILL GET TO WHAT'S CALLED FUNCTIONAL ZERO.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT HOMELESSNESS AND THE VETERANS COMMUNITY IS BRIEF AND NOT RECURRING.

>> THERE ARE A FEW CITY THAT IS ARE AT THAT FUNCTIONAL ZERO LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> THERE'S A FEW CITIES AND A FEW STATES.

SO WE'RE ALMOST THERE IF YOU LOOK A THE ANNUAL ACCOUNT, 545 I BELIEVE WHAT THE NUMBER SYSTEM AND MOST FOLKS LIVE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING LOOKING FOR PERMANENT HOUSING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF UNSHELTERED VETERANS IS CLOSE TO THE 30'S AND 40'S.

IT IS VERY CHALLENGING AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE HOSPITAL, YOU'RE DEALING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE CHALLENGED WITH THE HOUSING SITUATION BUT MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THE SAME COULD BE SAID WITH THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE TO PURPOSELY ENGAGE WITH.

YOU HAVE TO VALIDATE THEIR CONCERNS, WORK WITH THEM, PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND COORDINATE SERVICE ACROSS THE STATEMENT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LAUNCH -- WE LAUREN THE CAMPAIGN BUT SEEING THAT THROUGH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTH AND COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS A NEW MENTAL HEALTH LAW PASSED IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT CREATE ADD PANEL TO REALLY LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH AMONG VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS AND WAYS TO -- TO GUARD AGAINST SUICIDE IN THAT POPULATION.

I THINK THERE WAS RECENTLY A RECORD FILED OR A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WHAT MORE DOES THE STATE NEED TO BE DOING IN THIS AREA?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT AS A PHYSICIAN, SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR MANY PATIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVORIAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

NOW, WHEN VETERANS COME BACK OR SOLDIERS COME BACK -- I'M A VETERAN MYSELF, THAT EXPERIENCE MAY BE SHOCKING.

IT'S TRANSITION, YOU MIGHT BE ENTERING A NEW STATE.

YOU MIGHT BE DEALING WITH SOME ISSUE THAT IS YOU'VE EXPERIENCED ABROAD.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IT'S LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY.

AND VETERANS NEED THE SUPPORT -- FIRST OF ALL, THEY SIGN THEIR TIME IN A CRACK TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY.

THE LEAST WE CAN DO AS A COMMON WEALTH COMMONWEALTH IS SUPPORT THEM.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SO TO PUT FORTH A PLAN TO BETTER ADDRESS VETERAN SUICIDE.

NOW, THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SLOWLY CREEPING UP, WHICH IS OF CONCERN.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME AND SADDENED ME OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PAST YEAR WERE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT I RECEIVED FROM FAMILIES, FROM THE D.O.D.

ABOUT MILITARY AFFILIATED FOLKS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY, SOME OF WHICH BY SUICIDE.

THAT'S SOMETHING I WASN'T EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AT THE RATE I'VE BEEN RECEIVING THEM.

WE WANT TO GET ACTIVE ON THAT.

SO WE'VE ACTIVATED A TEAM ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FOLKS IN STATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONING IN THIS SPACE OF SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUBSTANCE USE.

WE CREATE ADD WORK GROUP.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE PLAN TO FORWARD A PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS, TAKE THIS HEAD-ON.

THE FIRST ONE WAS THE REPORT THAT YOU RE-- REFERRED TO THAT'S A VARIETY OF STAKE HOLDERS TO PUT TOGETHER.

A LOT OF IT FOCUSED ON HOW WE SUPPORT PEER SUPPORT SERVICE INFORMAL, FORM MALL ACROSS THE STATE?

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHARACTERISTIC OF VETERAN SUICIDE IT'S OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE USE AN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THAT.

BUT EVERY VETERAN IS A LIFE WORTH SAVING.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING FOLKS IN THE ROOM OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND COMING UP WITH A PLAN.

>> LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT PLAN.

SECRETARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WALKING IT WITH ME WE'LL BE EAGER TO WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

DO COME NEXT WEEK.

IN THE MEANTIME LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

"TALKING POLITIC" ON WGBH.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.

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