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Q&A
Council Member Brannan questions DOHMH on mental health programs and supportive housing
0:19:01
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114 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan engages in a Q&A session with DOHMH representatives, focusing on mental health programs and supportive housing initiatives. The discussion covers the closure and reopening of transitional programs, occupancy rates in supportive housing units, and the distribution of scattered site versus congregate housing units.
- The Bronx Support and Connection Center was closed due to underutilization, while the Harlem center remains operational.
- JISH sites maintain about 95% occupancy with 120 units.
- Of the 12,688 supportive housing units, approximately 25% are scattered site and 75% are congregate.
Justin Brannan
0:19:01
Was one of the transitional programs closed after COVID.
0:19:04
Are there plans to reopen it?
Jamie Neckles
0:19:07
So I think you're referring to the Support and Connection Center, which was a brief stay program, not a transitional housing program, a place for people to drop in and receive mental health and substance use services.
0:19:20
We did have to identify savings last year, and that program was closed during COVID, the Bronx Support and Connection Center.
0:19:29
It reopened after COVID, but struggled to meet utilization targets.
0:19:34
It was really underutilized despite a few years of concerted effort.
0:19:38
And so we ended that program but continued to operate the Harlem Support and Connection Center, which had over 700 people served last year.
Justin Brannan
0:19:48
What's the headcount for all the JISH sites and what's the vacancy rate?
Jamie Neckles
0:19:54
Headcount in terms of staffing or people?
0:19:58
It's 120 units, so 120 tenants.
0:20:01
All of
Justin Brannan
0:20:01
our And max like there's no other vacancies?
0:20:05
There's 120 units and they're all filled?
Jamie Neckles
0:20:08
Usually we have about a 95% occupancy, right, because there's always some people coming in and going out.
Justin Brannan
0:20:14
Okay.
0:20:20
MACHJ's points of agreement from 2019 called for an increase in the rates for the scattered site supportive housing units which according to the April 2025 update states that the scattered site housing programs are increased and ongoing advocacy continues.
0:20:38
How many scattered site housing programs are there currently?
Michelle Morse
0:20:43
I'm gonna pass to Jamie Nichols again.
Jamie Neckles
0:20:46
So of our 12,688 supportive housing units, about 25% of those are scattered.
0:20:53
The other 75% are congregate.