New York State Announces Progress in Expanding Homeless Outreach and Engagement Program to Upstate Communities

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced that eight Safe Options Support or 'SOS' teams are now canvassing areas in upstate New York, helping individuals who experience chronic homelessness connect with the services and supports designed to bring them lasting housing stability. With the first of these multidisciplinary outreach and referral-based teams established outside of New York City in late October, this program is now serving 15 counties across upstate New York, including communities with sizeable populations of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

"From building trust to providing connections to vital services, the Safe Options Support teams are helping New Yorkers who experience chronic homelessness achieve housing stability and start on the path to lasting recovery," OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. "By fully embracing this successful model and expanding it statewide, we are bringing critical mental health services to individuals who are often disconnected from traditional supports. This program, along with others supported by Governor Kathy Hochul's mental health initiative is helping strengthen and bridge gaps in our state's system of care."

Commissioner Sullivan met with the Capital Region SOS team today and toured part of their outreach route through downtown Albany. Operated by Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS), this team canvases areas in Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga counties, connecting with individuals experiencing homelessness in both urban, suburban, and rural settings.

Since starting operations in late January, the RSS team now has more than 2,100 enrolled contacts, including nearly 350 referrals. The team has also helped 23 individuals into permanent housing.

"We commend Governor Hochul and Commissioner Sullivan for their foresight and leadership in establishing the Safe Options Support program, which is playing a vital role in providing stability to individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges," RSS Executive Director William DeVita said. "We're proud to work with our colleagues at OMH to provide hope and support to our fellow citizens, assist them in becoming productive members of society, and help strengthen communities throughout the Capital Region."

The 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 canbe transferred to community-based providers.

"At a time when I had little hope and no one to turn to, SOS was a lifeline," said DC Dunkel, who was assisted by the Capital Region team. "The RSS staff helped me find and furnish an apartment, solve insurance and provider issues, and handle paperwork. They gave me guidance to keep me committed and moving forward. And they treated me with dignity and respect when I needed it most. Today, I have a home and a job, I've written a book, and my outlook for the future is bright. I could not be more grateful for the SOS program and the staff at RSS for their humanity, caring and support."

"The Safe Options Support team model is precisely the right intervention strategy at a time of great need in our communities," Albany County Commissioner of Mental Health Dr. Stephen J. Giordano said. "The ability to provide immediate and tangible assistance to individuals in need is what all of us in the helping professions strive for. SOS teams hold out the promise to quickly engage with those who are unhoused and marginalized, too often living with significant behavioral health challenges, and connect them to community services and supports that will improve their quality of life."

Initially provided $25 million in the FY 2023 State Budget, Governor Hochul expanded funding for the SOS teams to nearly $34 million last year. This allowed the program to grow beyond the established teams in New York City to incorporate the eight teams in upstate New York and one in Long Island.

In addition to the RSS teams in the Capital Region, teams are now canvasing communities in Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan, and Ulster counties in the Hudson Valley region; Monroe County in the Finger Lakes region; and Erie County in the Western New York Region. Additionally, teams are serving Broome, Chenango, and Otsego counties, with a new one launched in June to cover Chemung and Steuben counties - all in the Southern Tier region.

An additional two teams are being developed to serve Central New York and the Southern Tier regions, with a launch expected this fall. One team will canvas areas in Cortland, Tompkins, and Tioga counties, and the other will cover Onondaga and Oswego counties.

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