Tewksbury – One year after launching the most ambitious effort in state history to end veteran homelessness, the Healey-Driscoll Administration today celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community, comprised of 21 brand-new, 100 percent affordable housing units for veterans.

This marks the first completed project supported by the End Veteran Homelessness (EVH) campaign, which is a cross-collaborative initiative within the Healey-Driscoll Administration and federal, local, and veteran-serving organizations that prioritizes supportive housing, access to behavioral health services, capital investments to support veteran housing, and provides technical assistance to community providers.

The ribbon cutting ceremony featured remarks from local and state leaders, including Senator Finegold, Representative Robertson, with a closing reflection from Shane Harrington, a resident of the new facility and employed by Soldier On.

“This new facility stands as a testament to our commitment to honor and support our veterans,” said Feingold, who represents Tewksbury in the Second Essex and Middlesex District. “Thanks to the leadership of SoldierOn and CEO Bruce Buckley, we are providing our heroes with the stability and dignity they deserve”

Developed by Soldier On, a leading homeless veteran service provider and recipient of the administration’s Housing Outreach-to-Placement Effort (HOPE) campaign, the $9.2 million project includes 21 fully furnished units—18 one-bedrooms and three studios—each with internet, cable, and all utilities included.

Of the 21 units, 12 are supported by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program vouchers.

In addition to the 12 HUD-VASH supported apartments, the remaining units are deed-restricted affordable—legally protected to ensure they remain accessible to veterans with limited incomes, no matter how the housing market changes. Residents also have access to a community room, amenity space, and supportive services.

“This is what progress looks like,” said Governor Maura Healey. “When we say we are ending veteran homelessness in Massachusetts, we mean it. Every unit here represents a life stabilized, a veteran housed, and a future restored. This is a great milestone and will make a real impact for the veterans who now call this community home.”

“This facility will be a gamechanger for the veterans who will live here. Not only will they have a safe, comfortable home, but they will also gain a community and easy access to the services and support they need,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I congratulate Secretary Santiago, Secretary Augustus and Solider On for their hard work to make this milestone possible.”

The ribbon cutting coincides with the one-year anniversary of the EVH campaign, a $20 million cross-agency initiative led by the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

In its first year, the campaign has placed more than 200 veterans in permanent and transitional housing, enrolled over 500 veterans in our HOPE program, and provided more than $500,000 in financial assistance to veteran families.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration expects to add 330+ veteran housing units in the pipeline for development in the coming year. For more information about the End Veteran Homelessness Campaign or to support ongoing efforts, visit: www.mass.gov/end-veteran-homelessness.