“CLUBHOUSES SAVE LIVES”

New York City Hall, NY—Dozens of New York City Mental Health Clubhouse members, providers, and advocates rallied today on the steps of City Hall to demand full and stable funding for the city’s community-based mental health Clubhouses. They were joined by NYC Council Member Gale Brewer, a longtime champion for mental health services and steadfast supporter of the Clubhouse model.

The rally follows a last-minute $2 million FY25 allocation by the City Council, which rescued five Clubhouses from having to close in September 2024. With that funding set to expire on June 30, advocates are now urging Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council to fully renew FY26 funding at $3.25 million—and to baseline Clubhouse funding in the City budget going forward. A baselined investment would break the annual cycle of uncertainty and secure the long-term sustainability of these life-saving mental health programs.

Bowen Center Actine Executive Director Lawrence Fowler, served as emcee for the event.

He opened the rally with a stark reminder: “Clubhouses are life-saving, life-affirming communities that offer structure, peer support, purpose, and hope to thousands of New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. They help people reclaim their lives—reconnect with loved ones, pursue education, find employment, and most importantly, restore their sense of dignity and self-worth.

Mr. Fowler concluded: “And yet, despite their proven success, we are once again back here at City Hall, fighting for survival. This instability is harmful to programs—and devastating to the members they support. That’s why we’re here today: to call on Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, and the entire City Council to end the cycle of fear and fragility, and fully fund Clubhouses now and into the future.”

Mr. Fowler extended heartfelt thanks to Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Members Lynn Schulman, Linda Lee, Gale Brewer, Shaun Abreu, Carlina Rivera, Shekar Krishnan, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine for their continued leadership and unwavering support for Community-based Clubhouse members citywide.

“Community-based Clubhouses are a vital part of New York City’s mental health infrastructure — offering consistent, compassionate, and empowering support to thousands of New Yorkers living with serious mental illness,” said NYC Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Committee on Health. “I’m proud to stand with the Clubhouse Coalition in calling for full funding and baseline support in the FY26 budget. We cannot allow these lifelines to be threatened year after year. It’s time to ensure the stability and dignity every New Yorker deserves.”

“Clubhouses have changed the lives of people living with severe mental illness by offering them a caring and safe environment filled with opportunities for friendship, employment, and access to medical and psychiatric services,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction. “The clubhouse model is a key component of our City’s mental health response to provide a full continuum of care, and it is imperative that the Administration baselines funding in our upcoming budget to ensure that this precious lifeline remains secure for those most in need. Last year we fought to preserve this critical funding and I am proud to join leaders in the clubhouse community, once again, to call for the necessary resources to preserve this evidence-proven community-based healthcare model for all New Yorkers.”

Clubhouse programs provide long-term, community-based support to thousands of New Yorkers living with serious mental illness. They offer structure, peer support, job training, education, and a true sense of belonging—helping members build meaningful pathways to recovery, independence, and community reintegration. Yet despite their proven impact, these programs face a precarious funding landscape year after year. For members, that uncertainty isn’t just destabilizing—it’s dangerous and deeply demoralizing.

Introducing Council Member Gale Brewer, Fowler stated: “Council Member Gale Brewer has spent her entire career fighting for New York’s most vulnerable—whether as Manhattan Borough President or once again representing District 6 in the City Council. She understands the power of stable, community-based support and has never wavered in her commitment to programs like ours.”

NYC Councilmember Gale Brewer

“Members commit to these Clubhouse programs because they offer the structure and stability that are essential to improving their lives,” said Council Member Gale Brewer. “But for the past two years, they’ve been forced to endure weeks of uncertainty and fear over whether their program will survive another year. That kind of instability is detrimental to recovery. These Clubhouses are essential pillars of support, and we must ensure their funding is not only fully renewed in FY26 but also baselined for the long term—so members can focus on healing and growth, not on whether their lifeline will disappear.”

Today’s rally featured deeply moving testimonials from members of Clubhouses across the city—each a powerful reminder of the life-saving role these programs play in the lives of New Yorkers living with serious mental illness.

Michael	Jacqueline
Charles	Lawrence

Michael, a member of LifeLinks Clubhouse, shared that he joined the program two years ago after surviving a suicide attempt. “None of us want to be here,” he said. “Mental illness is exactly what it is—an illness, not a choice.”

Jacqueline, a member of Job Connection Center Clubhouse, emphasized the collective strength of the Clubhouse model: “The Clubhouse community is important. Without it, none of us would be here.”

Charles from TOP Clubhouse spoke with emotion about the looming threat of closure: “It’s really sad to think about TOP Clubhouse closing. TOP is so important to me because it’s a home away from home—where I help out, feel needed, and have a lot of friends.”

His fellow TOP Clubhouse member Marvin urged City leaders to act: “Mayor Adams, please fund TOP and the other community Clubhouses, because without them, people like me wouldn’t have much to do.

Richard from Chelton Loft shared how the Clubhouse model helped him rediscover purpose: “Clubhouse life gave me a purpose and a feeling of belonging to something special.”

And members Lawrence, Ahmed, and Daniel from Rainbow Clubhouse echoed a sentiment heard throughout the rally, “Rainbow Clubhouse makes us feel special and part of a family. It saved all of our lives.”

As each Clubhouse member shared their testimony, they were met with cheers and heartfelt encouragement from fellow members, dedicated staff, and passionate allies—all united in their support for these life-changing programs.

NYC Councilmember Shaun Abreu

Community-based Clubhouses provide the structure, stability, and dignity that so many New Yorkers living with serious mental illness have been denied elsewhere. Programs like the Rainbow Clubhouse in my district often serve as a last refuge when other systems have failed. Too often, these programs are forced to operate under a cloud of budget uncertainty, putting essential care at risk for those who rely on it most. I’m proud to stand with the Clubhouse Coalition in calling for full and permanent funding so these spaces can continue offering the care and community our neighbors deserve,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu, who met with the Clubhouse members prior to attending a budget hearing in the chamber.

“Clubhouses are a lifeline for New Yorkers which offer connection, stability, and a sense of belonging in a city that can often feel isolating. These welcoming spaces meet people where they are, regardless of insurance, housing status, or immigration background, and provide personalized, peer-driven support that works. The administration has already recognized the value of this proven model through the Blueprint for Community Safety and we must follow through with the full investment that Clubhouses need to continue serving communities across our city,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

“A few months ago, community-based mental health Clubhouses were going to be gutted until the City Council stepped in to fund them,” said City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, District 25. “New Yorkers deserve access to long-term mental health services that allow them to find community in their neighborhoods. I was proud to visit the clubhouse in my district at Elmhurst Hospital and hear firsthand from members how important and vital these spaces are to them. I stand with Goddard Riverside and urge the Mayor to provide long-term security of Clubhouses by fully funding them in the budget.”

“Mental Health Clubhouses are a lifeline to New Yorkers with serious mental illness, providing the care and community that thousands benefit from every day,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “It’s crucial that the FY26 budget fully fund clubhouses and baseline their funding so that they will have the financial stability needed to be a permanent part of our city’s behavioral health infrastructure.”

As FY26 city budget negotiations enter their final stretch, Rainbow Clubhouse member Kendy Maria delivered a clear and compelling message in written testimony that was submitted at the recent budget hearing held by the Council’s Committee on Health, Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction and the Committee on Finance; “Rainbow Clubhouse has significantly strengthened my self-esteem and given me a sense of purpose. Programs like Rainbow are vital for individuals like me who seek growth, stability, and a renewed sense of hope.”

The NYC Community-based Clubhouse Coalition urges City leaders to listen closely—not only to Kendy, but to all the members who bravely shared their stories today—and to finally deliver the long-term stability and investment that every Clubhouse member needs and deserves.