Albany, NY – Elected officials, staff from clubhouses across New York State, individuals with serious mental illness, and advocates from partner mental health organizations assembled in Albany on Tuesday to advocate for clubhouse expansion in New York State.

Attendees specifically drew attention to the need to invest in clubhouses – mental health recovery programs that go beyond traditional treatment to provide people with the skills, stability, and social connection to reintegrate into the community and improve their quality of life. The model has been shown to improve outcomes – including reducing the need for psychiatric hospitalizations, as well as the overall costs of healthcare – and is particularly effective at mitigating the stigma and social isolation that can have a profound impact on mental health yet are regularly overlooked by other forms of care. Also of note is that a full year of clubhouse membership is equal in cost to a mere two weeks of a psychiatric hospitalization.

The group gathered midday to voice support for Governor Hochul’s budget, which includes$10M for clubhouses and youth safe spaces, and Assemblymember Tapia’s proposal, which includes $15M for clubhouses. Today, all of the state’s clubhouses are mainly concentrated in New York City, with only one clubhouse upstate in Poughkeepsie. This current concentration of programs prevent New Yorkers, particularly in rural communities and other mental health deserts, from receiving the dignified, person-centered care that clubhouses uniquely provide.

Attendees also voiced support for A.4878, a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Tapia which would establish a statewide mental health program and ensure sustainability of the program in future years.

"For too long, New Yorkers living with serious mental illness have been left without the community-based support they need to truly recover and thrive,” said Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia. “Clubhouses are a lifeline – they provide stability, dignity, and opportunity where traditional services often fall short. This funding will give people a place to belong, a path to employment, and the support to rebuild their lives. That’s why I’m proud to champion this $15 million investment – because everyone living with mental illness deserves access to a supportive community and the resources to heal.”

"It is essential for us to provide meaningful support to people living with serious mental illnesses. Mental health clubhouses are a critical component in providing comprehensive care to the folks who need it, and offer safe, welcoming places for people to build supportive communities. Too often, people with severe mental illnesses are not offered the opportunities they need to get the services they deserve. NYC mental health clubhouses have been instrumental in administering these services, and it is so important to expand these services across the state to create meaningful improvements for all New Yorkers with serious mental illnesses” said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein.

“Thank you to Assemblywoman Tapia for authoring A4878 to create a statewide network of clubhouses. At a time when 1 in 10 New Yorkers experiences serious psychological distress, but only 1 in 20 receives treatment, clubhouses are an essential tool to bring wellness and peace of mind to everyone” said Assemblymember Jenifer Rakjumar. “These facilities offer structured, community-based interventions to support every facet of health and wellbeing for our fellow New Yorkers. Building upon this work, I am proud that my Empire State of Mind Act will provide access to clubhouses for everyone, as part of a comprehensive plan to shatter all barriers to mental health treatment. Together, we will take the mental health crisis head-on and deliver safety and dignity for all New Yorkers.”

"Every New Yorker has the right to vital mental health care resources and community-based support,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “Since their founding in 1940, mental health clubhouses have been one of the best ways for New Yorkers living with mental illness to receive the treatment they need. I stand with my colleagues and mental health advocates to call for funding for clubhouses in this year’s budget and for an expansion of these critical programs statewide. Thank you to Assemblymember Tapia for her leadership on this legislation.”

"Quality mental health care is about more than treatment, it is about community, connection, and stability. Knowing you know you are not alone. Too many people in our communities’ struggle to find the care they need, and often do so in silence. Mental health clubhouses can change that by providing connection, purpose, and real opportunities for comprehensive recovery. We need real investments that put people first” said Assemblymember Emerita Torres. “I stand with Fountain House, InUnity, the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, and all those fighting to expand these life changing resources. When we invest in comprehensive mental healthcare, we invest in our communities. It is time to make this a priority."

“Clubhouses set their members up for enriching lives by fostering meaningful community ties,” said Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero (D, WF-Albany, New Scotland, Guilderland). “They have pioneered person-centered, rights-based treatment and shaped the field of psychosocial rehabilitation, revolutionizing mental health care in the process. Clubhouses have changed lives worldwide, and it’s time upstate communities had access to this level of care.”

“The Clubhouse is the most cost effect and humane approach to helping individuals who live with mental illness. Clubhouses play an essential role in meeting the goals of the DSRIP initiative, which is to reduce Medicaid costs by 25% by helping to avert emergency room visits and avoidable psychiatric hospitalizations” said Juliet Douglas, CEO of Venture House.

“For 77 years, Fountain House and clubhouses across the nation have proven that we are a solution that enables people with serious mental illness to live, recover, and thrive within the community,” said Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House. “We are proud to see clubhouses gaining more recognition and sustainable funding options in New York State – where the model was born in the 1940s. We are eagerly watching what happens next with both the Governor’s budget and Assemblymember Tapia’s proposal, as these investments could enable better, healthier outcomes for New Yorkers living with serious mental illness.”

"Expanding Clubhouses in upstate communities will provide critical support for people with mental health challenges who currently do not have a welcoming place to go for support," said Luke Sikinyi, Director of Public Policy at the Alliance for Rights and Recovery. "Clubhouses offer vital services like employment assistance, education, housing support, and socialization—helping people build stability, purpose, and stronger connections within their communities."

“NAMI-NYC supports statewide investment in clubhouses, which are a critical resource for our participants. It is a place to both learn and connect—a second home,” said Matt Kudish, CEO at NAMI-NYC, helping families and individuals affected by mental illness for over 40 years. “We thank Assembly Member Tapia for introducing this legislation.”

Every New Yorker deserves safety, justice, and care. The expansion of clubhouses will deliver a comprehensive, community-based solution that will help break cycles of instability and provide a continuum of mental healthcare. It’s these sorts of practices that instill safety and stability in our communities—not fear mongering around crime” said Alana Sivin, Director of the Vera Institute of Justice’s Greater Justice New York initiative.