This Mental Health Awareness Month, the New York Clubhouse Coalition Releases 2026 Roadmap to Strengthen Clubhouses Across the City
The Coalition calls on City leaders to invest in a proven recovery model that reduces hospitalization, supports employment, and strengthens community stability amid the growing mental health crisis.
NEW YORK, NY — May 28th, 2026 — To close out Mental Health Awareness Month, the New York Clubhouse Coalition (NYCC) on Wednesday released its first policy roadmap urging City leaders to expand and strengthen mental health Clubhouses across the five boroughs. The roadmap outlines key steps to integrate the Clubhouse model more fully into the public behavioral health system and to ensure more New Yorkers have access to recovery-oriented community support.
Clubhouses are community-based mental health programs where members and staff work side-by-side to operate the program while building pathways to employment, education, housing stability, and social connection. The model was founded more than 75 years ago in New York City and has since been replicated more than 300 times in nearly 40 U.S. states and in 30 countries around the world. The NYCC represents 21 of those Clubhouses across the City and the greater tri-state area.
The Clubhouse model plays a critical role in recovery but remains underutilized in New York’s broader mental health system.
“Community-based mental health recovery programs like Clubhouses are essential to building a healthier city,” said Cyrus Napolitano, Director of the NYCC and longtime Clubhouse member. “Clubhouses offer people living with serious mental illness pieces often missing from the system– community, purpose and opportunity. They help individuals stay housed, find meaningful work, and remain connected to their communities.”
Research demonstrates that participation in Clubhouse programs reduces isolation and loneliness, and can even generate significant public cost savings. Economic modeling indicates Clubhouse services can save more than $11,300 per person annually when accounting for health, disability, criminal justice and productivity costs nationally.
The Roadmap, crafted by members and staff of Clubhouses of all sizes across the City, advances several recommendations, including:
Ensuring flexibility in the timeline to grow membership to maintain quality while scaling.
Baselining funding for the NYC Council Clubhouse Initiative.
Investing in infrastructure so Clubhouses can sustainably expand.
Increasing public and provider awareness of the model.
Creating employment partnerships within city government.
Supporting and growing the Clubhouse workforce.
The release of the roadmap comes as policymakers continue to emphasize the necessity of meeting the behavioral health needs across the City and expanding services. Advocates say scaling the Clubhouse model could help address gaps in services for people living with serious mental illness while promoting social inclusion and economic participation.
The NYCC appreciates the Mamdani Administration’s recognition of the efficacy and importance of the Clubhouse model. They are calling on City Hall and the City Council mental health leaders to deepen their commitment to Clubhouses by reviewing the roadmap and working with providers and community members to advance its recommendations.
“Clubhouses have been a godsend for New Yorkers struggling with their mental health, providing community-based health support, alongside help with job placements, pathways to education, peer support, and access to stable housing. Clubhouses work. That’s why we have to baseline them in the budget so that we can build out the Clubhouse network and broaden the access to this vital resource” said City Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Chair of the Mental Health Committee.
“Clubhouses are one of the most effective community-based mental health models we have in New York City, and they remain a lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers,” said City Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “These programs provide long-term, cost-effective support that helps people remain connected to housing, employment, education, and community while reducing reliance on inpatient and emergency services. Mental health care cannot only focus on crisis response. We must invest more in community-based support systems that help people thrive. I support the New York Clubhouse Coalition’s roadmap, which puts forward a strong vision for strengthening and expanding these essential services across New York City.”
“Too many New Yorkers living with serious mental illness still struggle to access the long-term support they desperately need. Clubhouses are a proven model that help people stay connected, find employment, and maintain stable housing,” said City Council Member Carl Wilson. “As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m proud to support the New York Clubhouse Coalition’s Roadmap and its call for sustained investment in recovery-centered care that treats people with dignity and builds healthier communities across our city.”
“As New York City continues confronting a growing mental health crisis, I think it’s paramount that we recognize how dependent this city is on our nonprofit and community-based partners to fill critical gaps in care and support,” said City Council Member Amanda Farías. “Organizations operating NY Clubhouses are doing life-changing work every single day — helping New Yorkers living with serious mental illness find stability, community, employment support, and pathways toward recovery before they ever reach a crisis point. This roadmap outlines pivotal steps to bolster and better integrate these programs into our broader mental health system while ensuring providers have the resources needed to sustain and grow their impact. We must continue investing in preventative, people-centered models of care that prioritize dignity, recovery, and long-term community wellness.”
“Clubhouses provide a safe and supportive community where individuals living with mental health challenges are seen, valued, and empowered—not judged by stigma. Funding Clubhouses means investing in recovery, connection, purpose, and hope for people who may otherwise feel isolated or afraid to seek support,” said Kadija Still, Director of Elements House. “Mental health should never be faced alone. Clubhouses create spaces where people can build relationships, regain confidence, and know they belong in a world that too often overlooks their voices.”
“Fountain House and the Clubhouse model were founded in New York City over 75 years ago by people living with serious mental illness, and from those beginnings, members have been core to leading the success of the model," said Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House. “This roadmap carries that tradition forward. It reflects what becomes possible when the people most affected help shape the response to it. We urge the City to meet this moment: fully resource Clubhouses, integrate them across the mental health continuum, and invest in the staff who show up every day to make recovery real. We look forward to working with our partners and champions to bring this vision to life for more New Yorkers.”
“Over the past several years, it has been encouraging to see the Clubhouse model receive greater recognition and investment across New York City. But there is still important work ahead. We must continue increasing public and provider awareness so more individuals are referred to Clubhouses before they reach crisis points,” said Hector Garcia, Program Director at Lantern House. “What gives me hope is the collaboration happening across Clubhouses throughout New York City. There is real unity within this movement. Different programs, different boroughs, different communities — all coming together with a shared belief that people living with serious mental illness deserve access to voluntary, recovery-oriented spaces where they can belong and thrive.”
“Ever since our auspice agency was awarded the RFP to build a new Clubhouse program in Central Harlem, we have greatly benefited by getting connected to the New York Clubhouse Coalition. The Coalition gives all the Clubhouses in the NY area an important forum to connect, problem-solve and network,” said Savannah Lampley, Program Director at Phoenix Harlem Clubhouse. “I am always grateful to my colleagues on the NYCC for championing our work as we establish a brand-new program and look forward to continuing to advocate for and build a strong ecosystem of Clubhouses to better serve New Yorkers living with serious mental illness.”
“At a mental health Clubhouse, community is care. In Goddard's TOP Clubhouse, we see every day how much a caring and safe environment - filled with opportunities for connection, employment, and access to healthcare - can transform people's lives,” said Roderick Jones, President of Goddard Riverside. “With new leadership in City Hall and City Council, we're excited to partner with other Clubhouses on this new roadmap for the future of NYC Clubhouses. We see the Roadmap as a pathway to ensuring those living with mental health challenges are able to co-exist in society while building the skills needed to live to their fullest potential. We look forward to working with partners across government and nonprofits to ensure Clubhouses have the funding, public recognition, employment connections, and staffing needed to ensure their members thrive.”
About the New York Clubhouse Coalition
The New York Clubhouse Coalition is dedicated to strengthening the impact of Clubhouse communities through collaboration, advocacy, and education to promote recovery for people living with mental illness.
Media Contacts:
Witney James
Director of Strategic Communications, Fountain House
witney.james@fountainhouse.org
646-455-7363
Trish Anderton
Director of Public Relations, Goddard Riverside
tanderton@goddard.org
929-249-1449
Cyrus Napolitano
Director, New York Clubhouse Coalition
cnapolitano@fountainhouse.org
347-924-1519