NYC Department of Health Visits Housing Works Community Healthcare Harm Reduction Program
May 28, 2026News
Earlier this month, Housing Works Community Healthcare welcomed leadership from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH), including Dr. Jorge R. Petit and colleagues from the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use and the Harm Reduction Unit, for a visit to our West 37th Street location.
The visit offered an opportunity to share how our harm reduction model, rooted in dignity, accessibility, and whole-person care, continues to meet the evolving needs of communities across Midtown. At the Ginny Shubert Center for Harm Reduction, NYC DOHMH representatives engaged with staff and explored the full scope of services available onsite, including drop-in support, primary care, psychiatric services, case management, justice initiatives, and specialized programs for individuals navigating substance use.
This exchange reflects a growing commitment to expanding low-threshold, community-based care. Housing Works’ integrated approach, bringing together medical, behavioral health, and harm reduction services under one roof, demonstrates what is possible when systems are designed to meet people where they are.
As conversations continue, there is shared interest in broadening access to substance use treatment and strengthening wraparound services that support individuals with complex needs. Housing Works look forward to ongoing collaboration with NYC DOHMH to advance equitable, compassionate care for New Yorkers.
Pictured (left to right): Jessica Diamond, Executive Director, Housing Works Community Healthcare; Alex Erickson, Harm Reduction Syringe Exchange Services Manager, Housing Works Community Healthcare; Maximo Sepulveda, Managing Director of Harm Reduction Services, Housing Works Community Healthcare; Dr. Jorge R. Petit, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYC DOHMH; Rebecca Linn-Walton, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use at NYC DOHMH; Megan Ludington, Program Coordinator, Harm Reduction Unit at NYC DOHMH; and Ajani Benjamin, Director, Harm Reduction Unit at NYC DOHMH.
