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Q&A
Discussion on the Support and Connection Center in East Harlem and potential expansion
1:16:18
·
148 sec
Council Member Brewer inquires about the Support and Connection Center in East Harlem, praising its effectiveness and asking about potential expansion to other areas like The Bronx. The discussion reveals funding challenges and the status of the center.
- The East Harlem center costs about $5 million and is still funded for FY '26
- Plans for a Bronx center were reduced due to budget constraints
- Brewer suggests partnering with safe havens to expand the model
Gale A. Brewer
1:16:18
Second, they can I call it support and connection center, which I know you know in East Harlem?
1:16:23
That is the best place in the city.
1:16:27
Are you managing to find funding for The Bronx or other places?
1:16:31
That's what it says here in my, material.
1:16:33
But I wanted to know what services are provided there.
1:16:36
How many people are being served.
1:16:37
I think it's 11 men and three women in that one as I understand it.
1:16:41
I go out quite often with BeHurt.
1:16:43
They love that center.
1:16:44
So my question is why are we not addressing, people's needs with other centers like that?
1:16:50
What what's the status?
Michelle Morse
1:16:52
Thank you for that question.
1:16:54
The center in East Harlem is still funded as you described in FY '26.
1:16:59
We do have some of the outcomes for that center, so thank you for raising it.
1:17:03
And I'm just gonna pass to our chief financial officer to share a little bit more about the question about expanding that kind of model.
1:17:15
Or just about what happened to the Bronx?
Aaron Anderson
1:17:18
Ah, the question about what happened to the Bronx one.
Gale A. Brewer
1:17:20
Yeah.
1:17:20
Yeah.
1:17:20
And also just the cost of what it is and how just because it's so successful.
1:17:24
I don't understand why we don't have other ones just like it.
1:17:27
Go ahead.
Aaron Anderson
1:17:27
Yeah.
1:17:28
Thanks.
1:17:28
Thanks, councilor Bruce.
1:17:29
It's about $5,000,000 for the for the current one.
1:17:32
You know, the one in The Bronx, you know, it was there were tough decisions that had to be made over the last couple years of, programs to eliminate the gap.
1:17:41
And and these are these are tough decisions.
Gale A. Brewer
1:17:43
So The Bronx is not happening?
Aaron Anderson
1:17:46
The Bronx was was reduced as part of that plan.
Gale A. Brewer
1:17:49
Was reduced?
1:17:50
Yeah.
1:17:50
It's gone, basically.
1:17:51
Okay.
1:17:51
So I guess what I'm saying is would I mean doctor Katz agrees also.
1:17:56
This is the most productive center for mentally ill, period.
1:18:01
So I just wish we could all say that so that we could have others.
1:18:04
You could partner perhaps with safe havens.
1:18:06
That's what his suggestion is.
1:18:08
Oh, is there any way of doing that?
1:18:10
We've got this this is it.
1:18:12
I mean you got twenty four hour nursing, part time OT, part time psychiatric, and everybody gets support.
Michelle Morse
1:18:19
We do think it's a model that has positive impact.
1:18:22
We've heard that from both the people who benefit from it as well as community members as well as council.
1:18:27
But I would hesitate to say that it's the only model that works.
1:18:30
I think we do have a number of different programs that really work to address the needs of people with mental health concerns.
1:18:37
So even though I agree with you that it is a very effective program, I think we have a number of programs that are a part of a whole ecosystem of care for people with behavioral health concerns.