Chair Stevens on 31.7% increase in drop-in center usage
Stevens notes a 31.7% increase in drop-in center usage in the first four months of FY2026. Thorne attributes the increase to expanded community outreach, a new 24-hour drop-in center in the Bronx, and peer navigators bringing youth into centers.
Okay, so I'm going to move on to talk about some of the drop-in center stuff.
And including in the first four months of fiscal 2026, the city drop-in center saw a 31.7% increase from the same period fiscal year 2025.
What does this agency attribute this increase to?
I can take it.
Aside from the good work of the providers, there was much more community outreach
events that took place, as well as us opening up another 24-hour drop-in center in the Bronx.
And then FY25 is when they really got off and running with services.
In addition, we also had peer navigators who were also doing community outreaches and bringing in youth into the drop-in centers.
And that's where the influx came from, intense outreach efforts and the work of the peer navigators and the good work of the providers.