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Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $2.7 million in federal funding that will allow five service providers to offer addiction treatment services at 22 homeless shelters in New York City. The funding through the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant will allow these shelters to deliver clinical interventions, while also providing peer and harm reduction services to residents.

“All New Yorkers should have access to treatment services when they are in need, including those individuals from marginalized populations,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will provide outreach and engagement services to high-need individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City, providing them the care and support they can rely on to overcome their addiction.”

The funding will allow providers to embed social workers, credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, and peer advocates at shelters. These workers will connect with shelter residents to provide clinical interventions and support; peer services; and harm reduction services, including counseling, behavioral strategies, and connections to other support services.

Administered by the state Office of Addiction Supports and Services, the awards resulted from a collaboration with the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the New York City Department of Homeless Services. The five providers awarded funding include:

• Acacia Network (PROMESA) – $625,000
• Bowery Residents Committee (BRC) – $500,000
• Project Renewal – $749,980
• Samaritan Daytop Village – $625,000
• Services for the Underserved – $250,000

New York City recorded the highest number of deaths among its homeless population for the period between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, according to a recent report, with overdose accounting for about half. Instances of co-occurring mental health disorders were also found to be higher among the homeless population and may contribute to a higher risk of overdose deaths.

OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “People who are experiencing homelessness are at an increased risk for overdoses, and it is vitally important that we work to connect with them and meet them wherever they are, with whatever support they require. This initiative will assist our ongoing efforts to reach this high-risk population and connect them to individualized services that will support their recovery from addiction, and overall health.”

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Daniel W. Tietz said, “The overdose epidemic has had a terrible impact on many of our communities. With this funding we will greatly expand the services available to shelter residents in New York City with a substance use disorder. Governor Hochul and our partners at OASAS have demonstrated a commitment to addressing a key contributor to homelessness, which will undoubtedly save lives.”

New York City Department of Social Services Acting Commissioner Molly Park said, “New York City’s DSS-DHS operates the largest Opioid Prevention Program in New York State, and as a result of our comprehensive efforts naloxone was administered to reverse more than 93 percent suspected overdoses in shelter last year, saving many lives against the backdrop of an ever-worsening, nationwide opioid crisis. We are grateful to the State for making these vital investments which will help enhance our ongoing harm-reduction efforts and further strengthen linkages to care for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Addressing addiction among the homeless population is critical to addressing the issue of homelessness. These funds provided through the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant give service providers the resources to help those vulnerable New Yorkers seeking shelter and in need of addiction treatment.”

Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “I commend Governor Hochul on today’s announcement allocating more than $2.7 million in federal funding to addiction treatment services at 22 homeless shelters in New York City. I was proud to fight to secure this funding for our state to provide an increase in social workers, substance abuse counselors, and peer advocates on the ground and at shelters where they are needed the most. By connecting with shelter residents, these workers provide critical support and services, including counseling, behavioral strategies, and connections to other support programs. Through our collective efforts, we are providing a holistic approach to addressing our city’s homeless crisis by prioritizing support of care givers and shelter services residents need the most.”

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

The state Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance-use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 680,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboardor through the OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at [email protected].