Volunteers of America of Massachusetts (VOAMASS), a nonprofit that delivers integrated behavioral health, housing, employment, and supportive services for individuals in need, including veterans, was awarded a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Utilizing funds from the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP), VOAMASS will operate a new suicide prevention program for veterans in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.

Staffed by an experienced team of veterans, VOAMASS’s Engaging Veterans & Elevating Resilience (EVER) program will offer suicide risk screening, education, case management, benefits assistance, peer support, safety planning, outreach, and connections to VA and community services. Designed to prevent suicide through evidence-based solutions, the initiative aims to reduce isolation, strengthen veteran stability, and ensure that veterans can gain access to appropriate clinical care.

“We are extremely grateful for the VA’s partnership in addressing the devastating reality of high rates of suicide among our nation’s heroes,” said VOAMASS President and CEO Charles E. Gagnon. “These funds are critical for VOAMASS to provide comprehensive care to veterans in our commonwealth, enabling us to add a dedicated suicide prevention program to our continuum of care.”

Across the U.S., there were an average of nearly 18 suicides a day among veterans in 2024. The SSG Fox SPGP advances the VA’s public health approach to veteran suicide prevention, which combines community-based efforts with clinical strategies.

Veterans interested in the EVER program or in need of assistance can email veteranservices@voamass.org for additional information.

Additionally, veterans in crisis or those concerned about one can receive 24/7 confidential support by contacting the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then Press 1; chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help-now/chat/; or text to 838255.