Thousands of New Yorkers Waiting for Mental Health Support Despite Increased Funding

Thousands of New Yorkers are currently on waitlists for two state-funded mental health treatment programs, according to data obtained by the Legal Aid Society and reviewed by New York Focus. Despite the state's increased investment in these programs in recent years, many applicants face delays of years for long-term mental health support, particularly for voluntary services.

The two key programs, supportive housing and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), have been praised by both the state and mental health advocates as vital resources for individuals with serious mental health conditions. Supportive housing provides subsidized apartments or community residences with services to support residents’ mental well-being, while ACT teams deliver around-the-clock care and recovery services, allowing patients to live in their communities rather than in institutional settings.

While funding for these programs has increased, demand still far exceeds the available services. Data requested by the Legal Aid Society from 49 counties across the state revealed that 19 jurisdictions, including both rural and urban areas as well as New York City, all reported having waitlists for supportive housing programs. Wait times ranged from one month to over two years, and in some counties, the number of people waiting nearly doubled the available housing units.

Additionally, while some counties did not have ACT programs, eight counties reported having waitlists for these services, further highlighting the shortfall in available mental health support.

In response, mental health advocates have called for more funding in the state’s budget to eliminate waitlists, expand ACT programs, and increase pay for mental health professionals. Although the Senate proposed new funding for ACT, Governor Kathy Hochul and the Assembly did not include provisions for additional funding for these programs in their proposals. Hochul’s budget does include some new funding for supportive housing, but advocates warn that it will not be enough to prevent existing units from deteriorating.

Meanwhile, the governor’s focus has shifted toward expanding involuntary commitment laws, which would allow police and clinicians more authority to involuntarily hospitalize individuals experiencing mental health crises. Advocates and lawmakers from downstate areas argue that expanding involuntary commitment may distract from the need to enhance voluntary, preventative services like supportive housing and ACT. The push for increased involuntary commitment comes at a time when federal funding for mental health services has been reduced by the Trump administration, leaving New York facing a $27 million shortfall.

Nadia Chait, senior director of policy and advocacy for the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services, emphasized that expanding involuntary commitment is not a solution when individuals are still waiting for access to essential voluntary services.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Office of Mental Health stated that the proposed changes to involuntary commitment laws are aimed at ensuring that those at the highest risk of harm receive critical inpatient care before transitioning to outpatient services designed to support them in their communities.