FY23 Budget To Include $175K For Brookline Center, Council On Aging

BROOKLINE, MA — As part of their FY23 budget debate, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted Tuesday to include two earmarks filed by Brookline Rep. Tommy Vitolo, providing $125,000 for the Brookline Center's statewide Healthy Lives Program and $50,000 for the Brookline Council on Aging social isolation program.

“We must face mental health crises head on, including those caused by Covid-19,” Vitolo said in a statement. "These earmarks support two essential Brookline organizations that work tirelessly to serve older adults and community members with complex health needs.”

“After years of advocacy, it was rewarding to vote in support of amendments that make our criminal justice and legal system more equitable, including banning Child Marriage, eliminating probation and parole fees, and making calls cost free for incarcerated individuals and their families,” he continued.

Funding for the statewide Healthy Lives program, run by The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health, will increase the number of community health centers using a short term intervention model, facilitate partnerships with local Housing Authorities, and support a health insurance contract.

The Brookline Council on Aging plans to use the $50,000 to reduce social isolation and loneliness through intergenerational programming that connects Brookline High School students with older adults, social work services, and partnerships with FriendshipWorks and the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center.

"Older adults, many of whom already live on fixed incomes, face rising costs of living, food insecurity, and social isolation,” Betsy Pollock, President of the Brookline Senior Center Board of Directors, said in a statement. “Statistically, they are the group most vulnerable to the ravages of Covid-19 and its variants. I am grateful that Rep. Vitolo is dedicated to ensuring that older adults are not left behind as we continue to navigate life during, and hopefully after, this pandemic.”

The House budget includes $230 million for Chapter 257 rates for health and human service workers, $40 million to reduce the wage cliff for home health aides and homemakers, and $1.3 million increase in funding for both the Elder Mental Health Outreach Teams and nine Elder Supportive Housing Sites.

Investments in behavioral health include $10 million for emergency diversion boarding programs, $188.6 million for the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, and $48.3 for early intervention.

Yesterday afternoon, the House voted on public safety and judiciary related amendments. The minimum age for marriage was raised to 18, banning the practice of Child Marriage. The budget also makes communication services, including phone calls, text messaging, and video conferencing, free for incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Probation and parole fees are also eliminated.

“No one in Massachusetts should have to choose between a phone call with their loved ones and feeding their family,” said Rep. China Tyler in a statement. “I am proud that the House of Representatives has taken this step to end the exploitation of families and persons who are incarcerated.”

The House also voted Monday to include a $25,000 earmark filed by Vitolo for Steps to Success Brookline and an additional $250,000 for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO).

Debate in the House is scheduled to continue through Thursday.

FY23 Budget To Include $175K For Brookline Center, Council On Aging originally appeared on the Brookline Patch