Program Connects More Than 1,000 New Yorkers Experiencing Chronic Homelessness with Permanent Housing
Benchmark Reflects Ongoing Success of Statewide Program Aimed at Bringing Lasting Stability to Vulnerable New Yorkers in Crisis
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Safe Options Support (SOS) program has connected more than 1,000 New Yorkers experiencing chronic homelessness with permanent housing and stability. In total, the program has found permanent housing for 723 individuals in New York City and 285 individuals in areas of the state outside of the five boroughs, including Long Island and upstate.
“The Safe Options Support program has brought new hope and lasting stability to unsheltered New Yorkers, including many who have spent months and even years living on the streets,” Governor Hochul said. “Through trust and support, these teams are helping vulnerable individuals — including many living with mental illness — attain permanent housing and start on the path to sustainable recovery.”
Administered by the State Office of Mental Health, the SOS program has now helped permanently house 1,008 individuals, including 147 in OMH-licensed housing. With the first teams launched in Spring 2022, the SOS program now has teams canvassing all five boroughs of New York City, both counties on Long Island, and 19 additional counties across the state.
The SOS program now supports 28 teams statewide, including 17 based in New York City, 10 located in areas upstate and one on Long Island. In addition to providing coverage in all five boroughs, the program also supports a targeted response team dedicated to providing outreach in the Times Square area of Manhattan.
Later this month, OMH is also expected to launch two new teams focused on young adults in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. Operated by ACMH, these new teams will focus on individuals between the ages of 18 and 25, providing them with developmentally appropriate support and skill building that will help them thrive in the community.
The SOS program uses Critical Time Intervention, an evidence-based practice that helps connect vulnerable individuals in crisis to housing and supports, including critical mental health services. Teams work with individuals experiencing homelessness to strengthen their skills and support network so that they can be successfully housed, and their care can be transferred to community-based providers.
Services are provided for up to 12 months, pre- and post-housing placement, with an intensive initial outreach and engagement period that includes multiple visits per week. OMH coordinates with local mental health and social services departments, mass transit, and other organizations to identify priority areas based upon reported density and level of need.
The SOS program was initially provided $21.5 million in the FY 2023 State Budget. Governor Hochul then expanded funding for the SOS teams to nearly $30.1 million in the FY 2024 budget, $35.2 million last year and $32.9 in FY 2026.
In addition to this funding, the FY 2026 Executive Budget includes $2.8 million to add street medicine and street psychiatry to SOS teams statewide. This funding will allow teams to provide immediate medical and psychiatric care to unsheltered individuals, improving the effectiveness and timeliness of outreach services.
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