Phoenix House NY and InUnity Alliance Rally For More State Funding for Substance Use & Mental Health Providers

ALBANY, NY (02/04/2025) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday, InUnity Alliance (IUA) will hold a press conference with leadership of nearly a dozen substance use disorder and mental health care providers to call for a 7.8% cost of living adjustment to the state budget to help agencies meet growing demands for care, combat workforce shortages, and sustain essential services for New Yorkers in need. Mental health and addiction treatment agencies face 20% - 30% job vacancy rates and a 35% turnover rate, preventing them from adequately serving the thousands of New Yorkers struggling with substance use and mental health challenges. Governor Hochul's proposed 2.1% targeted inflationary increase is a move toward progress, but it falls short of the funding needed to address the staffing crisis, rising operational costs, and long wait times for services.

Coinciding with Stand Up for Recovery Day (SURD) led by Friends of Recovery - New York, advocates will also highlight the urgent need to address the ongoing overdose epidemic. In 2023, approximately 6,330 New Yorkers died from overdoses, with overdose fatality rates surging for Black and Latino communities: reaching a nearly five-fold increase to 24% among Black residents and quadrupling to 12% among Latino residents.

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About Phoenix House:

For 57 years, Phoenix House New York and Long Island has helped thousands of people overcome substance and alcohol use in order to lead healthy, productive, and rewarding lives. Born as a model for integrated substance use treatment, Phoenix House has grown into a treatment network that offers short-term and long-term residential, intensive outpatient, and general outpatient treatment. Phoenix House also offers treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, clinical services, medication for addiction treatment, health and wellness goals, and vocational and educational support.

About InUnity Alliance: InUnity Alliance (IUA), a 501c(3) works to amplify the voices of people and organizations concerned about mental health and addiction issues in NYS. Formed by the merger of The Coalition for Behavioral Health and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, IUA is dedicated to advancing policies that strengthen the behavioral health system and improve access to care.

WHO:

Ann-Marie Foster, FACHE, President & CEO of Phoenix House New York and Long Island, InUnity Alliance Board Member

Sarah Duvall, Policy Center Director of InUnity Alliance

Doug Cooper, Executive Director of Association for Community Living (ACLNYS)

Allegra Schorr, President of Coalition of Medication-Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates (COMPA)

Paige Pierce, CEO of Families Together in New York State

Glenn Liebman, CEO of Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS)

Nathan McLaughlin, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of The Alliance for Rights and Recovery

Jackie Negri, Director of New York State Care Management Coalition

Lauri Cole, Executive Director of Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Pascale Leone, Executive Director of The Supportive Housing Network of New York
WHAT:

Advocates are calling on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to work together to increase the proposed 2.1% adjustment for mental health and substance use providers to a 7.8% investment – a move that will ensure New Yorkers receive the timely and effective care they need.
WHEN: Tuesday February 04, 2025 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: 2nd Floor Staircase (next to press offices)
New York State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224
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