1/14/2021 9:00:00 AM
2021 is off to a quick start with the convening the Minnesota Legislature on January 5. At MDVA, we welcomed the opportunity to provide an agency introduction to the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on January 7 and will present to the House Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee on January 19.This is the first step in the process to inform the Legislature about the agency, our priorities and mission to serve Minnesota Veterans.
This year’s Legislative session is focused on creating the budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 biennium. MDVA is also working with the Legislature on agency policy initiatives and is fortunate to have historically received bi-partisan support for the work we do on behalf of Minnesota’s Veterans.
Our presentation to the Senate committee included an introduction to our leadership team where I was joined by Healthcare Division Deputy Commissioner Douglas Hughes, Programs & Services Deputy Commissioner Brad Lindsay, Chief of Staff Mike McElhiney, and Legislative Director Ben Johnson. They each provided an overview of their areas of responsibilities, noting goals and priorities for next two years.
We shared a map of our physical locations, noting that our team works collaboratively with County Veterans Service Officers in each of Minnesota’s 87 counties to have a local presence.
Chief of Staff McElhiney reviewed our Strategic Plan including four goals:
Deputy Commissioner Lindsay focused on our work to end Veteran homelessness, with the goal of becoming the fourth state in the nation to do so. While we have achieved that goal in six of 10 areas in Minnesota, hard work remains in the more populated areas of Ramsey, Hennepin and St. Louis counties and in the St. Cloud area. We made great progress in the last two years, housing 538 Veterans in 2019 and 427 in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated the homelessness situation for many Veterans.
Brad also shared the good news about being selected to receive a construction grant of $5.99 million from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration to support the construction of a fourth State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood County. We have begun design work and anticipate construction beginning in late 2021 or early 2022.
Deputy Commissioner Hughes provided an update on MDVA’s goal to build three new State Veterans Homes. In 2018, the Legislature passed, and then-Governor Dayton signed a bill that included $32 million in bonding funds for the state’s portion of construction costs for these new homes. In April 2019, MDVA submitted applications to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for matching Federal construction funding for the homes to be located in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston. Unfortunately, these projects were not included on the VA State Home Construction Grants Priority List released in March 2020. The projects remain under consideration for future funding.
Doug also updated the committee on our work around preventing Veteran suicide. MDVA is participating in the “Governor’s Challenge” with support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and is working on a comprehensive public health model/community-based approach. Working with numerous public and private partners, our priority is to identify and work to remedy issues that cause Veterans to feel hopelessness and despair which can lead to destructive behaviors.
Finally, we shared our experiences in remaining “open for business” during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am very proud of our staff who have stepped up to ensure ongoing, high-quality care for the 700+ Residents in our Veterans Homes and hundreds of others who are supported by MDVA. We have been privileged to facilitate the distribution of $6.2 million in grants to support Minnesota Veterans financially impacted by the Coronavirus.
Starting the week of December 28, the first dose of the COVID vaccine was given to the Residents and staff at the Veterans Homes. We have administered vaccines to 443 Residents (93% of those eligible) and 742 staff (77% of those eligible).
MDVA looks forward to working with the Minnesota Legislature this session to ensure the funding necessary to continue to support Minnesota’s more than 312,000 Veterans and their families.
If you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.
Thank YOU for your service!
