New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced significant progress in the state’s $1 billion mental health care initiative, with developments outpacing original timelines.
Nearly 200 formerly homeless residents have been placed in permanent housing, and 99 new state-operated psychiatric beds are now operational.
An additional 500 beds in hospitals are set to be available by January 2024. Hochul emphasized the urgency of disbursing funds to aid a range of services, from in-patient and outpatient care to school-based mental health and workforce development.
Jody Rudin, President of the Institute for Community Living, lauded the announcement, highlighting the importance of seamless transitions from hospital care to permanent housing for effective mental health treatment. Amidst discussions about New York City potentially suspending the city’s right to shelter law, Hochul voiced support for the rollback, citing the current migrant crisis, but reinforced her unwavering commitment to aiding the homeless, especially those with mental health challenges.
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