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Date: 10/18/2023
WESTFIELD — State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) has been called up to the National Guard to help with the migrant crisis in Massachusetts, the senator noted in an Oct. 7 letter to The Westfield News.
“As a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, I was activated [Oct. 3] to help with their operations across the state to support our commonwealth’s Emergency Assistance Shelter system. While this has meant some time away from the Legislature and district for myself, my office remains fully operational to assist with any and all inquiries,” Velis wrote.
Gabriel Adams-Keane, director of legislation and communications for Velis, confirmed that the office would continue to be open.
“The senator’s office remains fully operational and continues to assist with any inquiries. After the senator’s Guard duty shifts, he receives updates from our office and is staying abreast of all issues before the Senate and in his district,” he said on Oct. 12.
On Aug. 31, Gov. Maura Healey issued the order activating up to 250 National Guard members to provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels. The administration also announced the launch of Regional Rapid Response Teams to assist with overseeing shelter sites and serving as a direct contact to the administration to address any concerns.
Earlier in the summer, the governor declared a state of emergency over rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts, requiring the state’s emergency shelter system to expand in an unsustainable manner. She said there were more than 6,000 families, including children and pregnant women, in emergency shelters across the state.
“Massachusetts is in a state of emergency, and we need all hands on deck to meet this moment and ensure families have access to safe shelter and basic services,” Healey said at the time of the announcement.
Healey said while her administration works to implement a more permanent staffing solution, the National Guard would provide an efficient and effective means of delivering these services and keeping everybody safe.
“Our role in the response to the ongoing housing crisis will expand to leverage our multitude of robust and adaptable capabilities in emergency and domestic operations to help those in need,” said Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Healey said each National Guard member would be assigned to specific hotel shelter sites, where they would facilitate the onsite coordination of services such as food, basic needs, transportation, and medical care delivered by the site, external vendors, community organizations, and state and local government.
Velis was previously called up in May 2018 for a six-month deployment in Afghanistan while serving as a member of the House of Representatives. A captain in the U.S. Army Reserves at the time of his deployment, he was promoted to the rank of major while serving overseas.