Mayor Adams Announces Opening of 13 New Clubhouses to Support New Yorkers Living With Serious Mental Illness

August 12, 2025

Wathc the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWTL2kbfONM

Adams Administration’s Recent $30 Million Investment Supports Increased Capacity and Improved Quality of Services for City-Supported Clubhouses

Continues Administration’s “End Culture of Anything Goes” Campaign, Highlighting Mayor Adams’ Efforts to Change Culture, Laws, and Investments That Have Allowed for Public Disorder on City Streets 

Builds on Mayor Adams’ Commitment to Support Those Experiencing Severe Mental Illness 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the opening of 13 clubhouses across the five boroughs to engage adults living with severe mental illness, thanks to a $30 million investment of city and state dollars. In 2023, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) began the process to expand the clubhouse model — for the first time in nearly 30 years — through a city-state investment that doubled previous funding. Of the 13 newly contracted clubhouses, there are seven new sites opening, and six are being granted contracts to continue operations. The new clubhouses will expand opportunities for people with serious mental illness to participate in the unique community-driven environment that clubhouses offer. The additional clubhouses will more than double enrollment to 6,600 members by 2027, allowing the city to expand capacity, especially in high-need neighborhoods.

Today’s announcement continues Mayor Adams’ “End the Culture of Anything Goes” campaign, highlighting the work the administration has done to change the culture and laws that prevented people with severe mental illness from getting the help they needed while making the investments necessary to support outreach, harm reduction, wraparound services, and housing to make lasting impacts in lives and communities. Mayor Adams is bringing the same energy and approach that proved to be successful in carving a new path to help people with severe mental illness to addressing other health crises playing out on city streets, and will soon lay out how he plans to realize that vision.

“For those struggling with mental illness, clubhouses are a game-changer. These are free member-led spaces where New Yorkers can do everything from accessing health or legal benefits to finding employment or educational services. Most importantly, clubhouses decrease social isolation, create thriving communities, and they are proven to be effective. That’s why our administration took bold steps to expand this model for the first time in nearly 30 years,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to our efforts, alongside a $30 million investment of city and state dollars, New Yorkers will now have 13 high-quality clubhouses to join. This will expand enrollment to 6,600 members by 2027, increasing access and care. From day one, we promised we would tackle the issue of serious mental illness in our city. From housing with wraparound services to outreach on the subways, we have taken the steps needed to help our fellow New Yorkers in need. We are excited to welcome even more New Yorkers to these life-changing programs, and we thank our providers for the great work they continue to do to improve New Yorkers’ lives each and every day.”

“Everyone deserves access to spaces where they feel seen, safe, and supported, and clubhouses offer that and more,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. “At the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we are committed to expanding access to high-quality resources like clubhouses for our neighbors living with serious mental illness. I look forward to continuing this work with our valued partners.”

Clubhouses are free, member-led spaces for adults experiencing severe mental illness that facilitate social connections and provide access to resources like benefits, health and legal services, and employment and educational services through a supportive community of peers. Clubhouses vary by location and are shaped by the local neighborhoods and the members who create community within their spaces. Activities are designed based on member interests or skills, which could include language lessons, creating a group newsletter, or cooking meals that reflect members’ heritage, and more. Several newly contracted sites are in the process of building permanent spaces, allowing old and new members to have further input in shaping their communities.

The 13 newly contracted clubhouses are:

Bronx:

• Fountain House Bronx
• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Lantern House
• Venture House

Brooklyn:

• Brooklyn Community Services Greater Heights Clubhouse
• Services for the Underserved: Brooklyn Clubhouse
• Venture House

Manhattan:

• Fountain House Midtown
• Fountain House Harlem
• New York Disaster Interfaith Services: Elements House
• Phoenix House Harlem.

Queens:

• Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey: Citiview Connections
• Venture House

Staten Island:

• Venture House

All 13 providers were selected through a competitive request for proposals process.

Numerous factors can impact mental health, including stress, environment, and social isolation. DOHMH’s 2024 report, “The State of Mental Health of New Yorkers” found that less than half of adult New Yorkers said they had someone they could count on for emotional support most or all of the time. According to estimates from the 2023 “NYC Neighborhood Wellness Survey,” of those who have been diagnosed by a health care professional, approximately 1 percent of adult New Yorkers have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychosis; 3 percent have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mania, or manic depression; 5 percent have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; and 11 percent have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder or severe depression.

Mayor Adams has made supporting New Yorkers with severe mental illness a top priority. In 2022, the Adams administration announced an ambitious plan to support unsheltered New Yorkers struggling with untreated severe mental illness, which included a new city protocol on involuntary removals and a package of proposed state legal reforms to maximize the city’s ability to serve this population. Since then, the Adams administration has developed new programs, like Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT) and Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness; added 1,400 new safe haven and stabilization beds, and successfully advocated for changes to state law passed in 2025 that remove barriers to psychiatric care for those unable to recognize their own need for it. All this work comes in tandem with the collection and public reporting of new data on involuntary hospital transports to increase transparency in the process.

New Yorkers can find a clubhouse near them by visiting DOHMH's “Serious Mental Illness” page for a list of locations or calling 311 for assistance. Those looking for mental health and substance use support information or referrals can call or text 988 24/7 to speak with a trained professional.

“Our city is experiencing a growing mental health crisis that demands a unified, compassionate response from all of us,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “It’s essential that we come together as elected officials and service providers to support our residents and families with comprehensive, holistic care that addresses their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I want to thank Mayor Adams for expanding the clubhouse model and for making mental health a priority in our city's care infrastructure.”

“Access to mental health support is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said New York State Assemblymember George Alvarez. “I’m proud to stand with Mayor Adams in opening these 13 new clubhouses across our city, including right here in the Bronx. This investment is a powerful step toward ensuring that New Yorkers living with serious mental illness have a safe, welcoming space to find community, stability, and hope. I commend the administration for prioritizing this long overdue expansion and look forward to the positive impact it will bring to our neighborhoods.”

“Clubhouses have been proven to be the best model for addressing the myriad issues of homelessness, mental illness, and substance use in an integrated and comprehensive way,” said State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. “They provide essential community-based support systems for New Yorkers living with serious mental illness and co-existing disorders, helping people connect and thrive. Expanding access to these spaces means more New Yorkers can get the resources and relationships they need closer to home. I applaud the Mayor for expanding this program, which will make a real difference in our communities.”

“New York City's investment in mental health clubhouses last year has helped to create an ecosystem of community-based organizations working with New Yorkers who live with serious mental illness across the city. In doing so, the city has not only taken steps to benefit individuals but also strengthen the broader system of support by filling in one of the major missing pieces,” Ken Zimmerman, CEO, Fountain House. “Unfortunately, isolation is one of the most harmful effects of living with serious mental illness and also one of the least addressed when it comes to our mental health support infrastructure. Clubhouses play a crucial role in filling this gap by putting members on the road to meaningful recovery while also using public resources efficiently and effectively. Together with city leaders, our fellow clubhouses, and our members, we are cementing clubhouses as a key part of voluntary, community-based care across these five boroughs.”

“Goodwill Industries of New York and New Jersey is excited to be a part of the New York City expansion of the evidence-based, community-focused Behavioral Health Clubhouse in the Bronx and Queens,” said Katy Gaul-Stigge, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and New Jersey. “The clubhouse membership keeps our neighbors healthy and connected to work, which is core to the goal for everyone.”

“We’re grateful to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for awarding New York Disaster Interfaith Services this contract, specifically on the Lower East Side — a diverse neighborhood where our organization has a long history with its Chinese and Puerto Rican roots,” said Peter Gudaitis, executive director and CEO, New York Disaster Interfaith Services. “We’re excited to continue that tradition and build new partnerships as we grow our clubhouse. People living with serious mental illness in this part of the city often face cultural and language barriers to care, and we’re committed to creating a space that feels accessible, familiar, and rooted in the needs of the community.”

“The opening of the Phoenix House Clubhouse marks a transformative step forward in our mission to empower individuals on their journey from mental health challenges to mental wellness,” said Ann-Marie Foster, president and CEO, Phoenix House New York and Long Island. “This innovative model fosters connection, purpose, and hope by offering a supportive, peer-led space where members can access resources, build coping skills, and thrive as part of a caring community. We are proud to partner with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to expand access to vital mental health services for New Yorkers and create new opportunities for recovery and resilience.”

“We’re thrilled to commemorate the opening of these clubhouses,” said Perry Perlmutter, president and CEO, Services for the UnderServed. “Clubhouses have served a crucial role in the city for decades, providing a free, safe place for thousands of adults with mental illness to eat, socialize, and focus on issues related to living in the community. Not only do clubhouse members learn valuable skills and get support managing their wellness, they also overcome stigma and build community to maximize their potential. I applaud the city’s role in expanding this essential program.”

“After a long, complex journey of travelling the boroughs in search of property, staff, furnishings, and information technology, we have settled into our starter homes while building our permanent spaces nearby,” said Juliet Douglas, CEO, Venture House. “We have developed new partnerships with community stakeholders, and together we shall serve the mission, bringing the greatest good to the greatest number. We are thrilled to see the excitement, positive energy and engagement of our new membership across the boroughs!”

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