by Laura Matz
8/5/2015

How Holliston Helps Its Elderly and Disabled Residents

Most readers have probably never heard of the Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund. And perhaps that is a good thing, indicating that most Holliston residents do not need its assistance. But some long-time town residents, such as Alan, believe that they have been able to remain in Holliston because of the generosity of town residents in helping offset their Holliston tax bills.

The Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund was passed into law in Holliston in 1998 after several Holliston town residents and our state senator, Barbara Gardner, appealed to the Commonwealth to allow towns to set up taxation funds donated to by town residents to offset town taxes for the elderly and disabled.

Alan was born in Holliston, graduated from high school here and has lived here for most of his life. After his high school graduation he was in a devastating car accident, which resulted in severe injuries to his back and legs, and his inability to walk without crutches. He had hoped and expected to go to college to study marine biology, but the impact of the injury hampered his mobility so much that he postponed his college plans. Instead, after 3 to 4 years of recovery, he found a job working locally in hotel management.

He built a career around this, moving to the south to manage a hotel there. While there, he began making visits to local hospitals to talk to patients and discovered his interest in working with those who needed assistance and counseling. He then went to college part time and received a bachelor's degree in social work, and he worked in social work for the next 10 years. Then he made another switch and got into computer technology and IT infrastructure. This required significant travel, and ultimately the car accident injuries began to worsen. In his early 40's, after falling numerous times, he realized that he could no longer work.

He moved back to Holliston in 1999 to care for his elderly, ailing mother and applied to the state for a monthly disability allowance, which he was granted beginning in 2004. After not working for several years, he had built up significant debt which the disability allowance helped to offset.

Now Alan is in his mid-fifties and is house-bound. He says, " I am in a wheelchair now and only leave the house to go to the doctor. But it isn't easy to live on disability. The cost of my medications practically eats up the disability allowance. Therefore the tax reduction from the Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund is a huge help. I so much appreciate the support I have gotten from the town and the people who donated to the fund."

Holliston has had residents such as Alan - usually 10 to 15 per year - for the past 17 years. Potential residents beneficiaries of the Fund must fill out a formal application, participate in an interview and then the Taxation Aid Committee makes a determination on their eligibility and how much funding they should receive.

HOWEVER this year we have hit the end of our funding capability due to lack of money in the fund. We are therefore appealing to Holliston residents to make a contribution in any amount to the Holliston Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund. Information on how to donate is at the end of this article.

When Alan was asked what he would say to people who are wondering whether or not to donate to the fund, he responded, "Put yourself in my shoes. I didn't ask to get sick. All I can do is sit and watch TV all day. When I look at what I used to do, sometimes I get sad. And then I try to look at the positive side. And I thank my lucky stars that I live in a town like Holliston where my fellow citizens care about their neighbors and are willing to assist if they can."

PLEASE ASSIST OUR FELLOW HOLLISTON RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISABLED OR ELDERLY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THEIR TAXES.

Mail checks made payable to The Town of Holliston E & D Fund to Town Treasurer, Town of Holliston, PO Box 6737, Holliston, MA 01746 or drop off or enclose a check while paying tax bills.