Adams calls for $650M for New York City’s mental health 'crisis'

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(The Center Square) — New York City Mayor Adams unveiled a $650 mion plan to cope with the challenge of mentally homeless other folks and get them off the streets and subways of the city.

Adams said the new program’s goal, which he previewed during his State of the City address last week, is to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, the use of shelters and interactions with the criminal justice system.

“We are excited to announce the Bridge to Home model that will meet New Yorkers where they are and provide a supportive facility that gives them the treatment and temporary housing they need while keeping them out of the hospitals and off our subways,” Adams said in remarks at NYC’s Bellevue Hospital on Wednesday.

Under the plan, patients with serious intellectual illnesses and who are not fit to pass will receive transitional housing for six to 12 months, according to the Adams administration. Each patient will get their own room, food, entertainment and on-site behavioral health care, officials said. Treatment would likely include medication administration, therapy, and substance abuse treatment. After that, they would be moved to permanent housing.

If the plan is approved, Adams management said about 900 “shelter” beds would be available through this summer. An additional 100 beds will be available for homeless teenagers. Officials said the site will be fully operational until 2027.

“The new facility will provide a safe space for New Yorkers with mental illness to live, to heal and be cared for so they get the life-changing help they need,” Adams said.

New York City has been roiled by a series of horrific incidents involving mentally ill individuals, including a deadly stabbing spree in Manhattan by a homeless man with a criminal history and severe mental health issues. Polls have shown New Yorkers are increasingly concerned about crime, especially on the subway system, despite recent data showing that violent crime is down in the city.

Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to boost the state’s involuntary commitment law and spend more money on intellectual competency in her next budget. During his State of the State address on Tuesday, Hochul said the state may not allow the New York Subway formula “to be a rolling shelter for the homeless. “

“Mental illness, especially among our homeless population, has contributed to a disturbing accumulation of random acts of violence and a heightened sense of unrest in our city,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement. Press release. “Addressing this crisis requires thoughtful and compassionate action, and I commend the mayor for his proposals to provide treatment, housing and support rather than relying on arrest and incarceration. »

“While no single initiative can solve those complex challenges, investments in compassionate, evidence-based approaches will help public protection and assistance repair all New Yorkers’ sense of security,” he said. -Declared.

City Comptroller Brad Lander, a Democrat running for mayor, has launched his own plan to fight homelessness and intellectual fitness issues. He criticized Adams for failing to address the crisis during his tenure.

“Mayor Adams has had three years to ‘do his homework’ and prevent other people with serious intellectual illnesses from cycling from the street to the subway, from the hospital to the jail,” Lander posted on social media. “New Yorkers are fed up with a government that doesn’t work. As mayor, I will create a safer, more controlled, and more controlled city. “

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Adams calls for $650M for New York City’s mental health ‘crisis’

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