Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams both made needed commitments in their State and City addresses to support New Yorkers with the most serious mental health challenges. Their focus is urgent and well-placed. But to turn those commitments into real change, we need to act with urgency, strategy, and scale.
I’ve seen what works. Two decades ago, I helped lead New York City’s effort that resulted in a 40% reduction of street homelessness among people with the most serious mental health issues.