ACMH's newest supportive housing location opened at the end of 2021! One of three buildings that has been under construction near the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, The Grand, once completed, will provide a total of 41 supportive studios in a 138 unit mixed income multi-family project. This building at 225 E. 179th Street provides 37 units, including 11 supportive studios. 

Our newest residents so far have shared that the apartments are "nice and the environment is clean and quiet." We look forward to the completion of construction and welcoming more residents at the end of 2022!

In February, our Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) services officially transitioned to a new service array known as Community Oriented Recovery & Empowerment Services (CORE). Although still only available to the highest need individuals (HARP enrolled), this new model will offer significant improvements over HCBS by eliminating the many barriers which have prevented client access to services. Through CORE, services will be integrated into existing ACMH housing programs and expanded to Care Management Services and Crisis Residence guests, allowing for individually tailored psychosocial rehabilitation, peer and family supports. CORE allows for enhanced support to eligible ACMH clients which will assist many in maintaining their current level of housing, graduating on to more independence in the community, and assisting in their overall recovery goals.

Since its formation, the Taskforce has made progress towards its objective of creating a culture of antiracism and promoting change at ACMH Inc. To date, these changes have consisted of the incorporation of more inclusive language, assessments and training topics. The first quarter of 2022 kicks off Bias Reduction training for all ACMH employees. As a key component of our strategic plan to become an antiracist organization, the goal of this training is to facilitate dialogue around power, privilege, oppression and diversity, equity, and inclusion from a global-corporate and educational perspective.

We have long recognized the important role our Peer Counselors and Specialists provide to those we serve in their recovery from mental illness and substance use. As we seek to increase the number of peer staff throughout 2022, we are excited to receive additional support from the Office of Mental Health to help with Peer retention and recruitment, including hiring bonuses, assisted training for Peers to obtain their New York Certified Peer Specialist credentials, group supervision, and employee development. With this additional funding, we look forward to bringing on more full-time Peer staff to help our clients in their recoveries, and provide extra support to Peer staff who wish to advance their careers!

Mental health housing saves lives! Join us, along with the Bring It Home campaign in sending emails to NYS Legislators and Governor Hochul to urge them to include funding for New York State Mental Health Housing Programs in the final State Budget. 

The Governor put a $104 million two-year commitment ($65 million in 2022-23 and $39 million in 2023-24) and a 5.4% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for community-based mental health housing programs in her Executive Budget and we must ensure they are included in the 2022-2023 Final Budget.