BOSTON (AP) - Several veterans groups have joined a coalition of stakeholders pressing for a larger replacement for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home than the plan proposed by the state, officials said Friday.
The Massachusetts Department of the American Legion, the Massachusetts Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Massachusetts were among the groups that sent letters to the care facility’s trustees saying the plan is inadequate.
The state’s proposal does not have enough beds, they said. They are calling for a 280-bed facility with an adult day health program, noting that many veterans experience excessive wait times to get a bed at the current facility and many die before they get a chance to live there.
The Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Coalition was formed last spring after nearly 80 veteran residents of the facility died after contracting the coronavirus. It includes veterans’ families, elected officials and others.
The state’s plan calls for a new $300 million facility with a maximum of 192 beds. The current home has about 230 beds.
The administration said pushback over the size of the home could imperil the entire project, which faces an April 15 deadline to apply for federal funding.
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