1 [ THEME MUSIC ] >> ON THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW," A TURBULENT ECONOMY HAS ECONOMIC FORECASTERS NERVOUS.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON NEW YORK'S FINANCES.

THEN, REPORTER ALEXIS YOUNG DOES A DEEP DIVE ON NEW YORK'S OVERDOSE CRISIS AND WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT IT.

AND LATER, HOW CAN NEW YORK ADDRESS ITS HOUSING CRISIS?

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

I'M DAN CLARK AND THIS IS "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT POLITICS AND LAST WEEK'S ELECTIONS BY NOW SO WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE ALL THAT BEHIND THIS WEEK AND LOOK AHEAD.

IT'S A FEW WEEKS LATE, BUT THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION RELEASED AN UPDATE TO THE STATE'S FINANCES AND THIS UPDATE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

FOR ONE, WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH NEW YORK'S FISCAL YEAR.

BUT FOR TWO, GOVERNOR HOKEEL IS ACTIVELY PREPARING HER OWN PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

THIS UPDATE WILL LIKELY INFLUENCE THAT.

SO WITH ME HERE IN STUDIO TO GET MORE INTO IT IS PATRICK ORECKI FROM THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PATRICK.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

2 >> SO THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE STATE BUDGET PASSES IDEALLY BY THE END OF MARCH.

THE FISCAL YEAR STARTS APRIL 1st.

SO WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WERE THE TAKE-AWAYS FROM THIS REPORT?

>> YEAH.

WHAT WE SAW IN THIS QUARTERLY UPDATE WAS BASICALLY GOOD-TO-NEUTRAL NEWS.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY COMING IN THAN WAS EXPECTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND A LITTLE LESS TO PAY OUT BECAUSE OF SOME EXTRA FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME THROUGH IN THE LAST QUARTER.

SO KIND OF BOTH GOOD NEWS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LEDGER.

>> DO WE KNOW WHY THERE'S MORE MONEY COMING IN?

IS THIS JUST HIGHER TAX RECEIPTS THAN WE WERE EXPECTING?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS JUST HIGHER TAX RECEIPTS BASED ON ACTUAL RECEIPTS FROM JULY THROUGH OCTOBER BASICALLY.

SO IT DOES HELP A LITTLE BIT THERE ARE STILL KIND OF LONGER-TERM PROBLEMS.

IN JULY, TAX RECEIPTS CAME DOWN A LOT OVER A MULTIYEAR PERIOD.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS IN ONE YEAR ALONE.

>> OKAY.

SO IS THE TREND THAT WE'RE SEEING, IS IT TRENDING UP, OR IS THIS MORE LIKE A FLUKE PHASE?

>> IT'S BASICALLY TEMPORARY 3 IS HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE IT.

IT'S ONE YEAR.

IT'S BASED ON WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING.

WE'LL SEE.

THERE WILL BE MORE ADJUSTMENT OUTCOMES IN JANUARY AND HOW WE CLOSE OUT THE FISCAL YEAR IN MARCH.

I THINK EVERYONE WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED PROBABLY BY WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS FINANCIAL PLAN UPDATE.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN THE SHORT TERM?

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING IS A LOT OF MONEY BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STATE BUDGET, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A LOT MONEY.

SO IF I'M THE HOCHUL ADMINISTRATION PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET RIGHT NOW OR WHATEVER, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY PLANNING?

DOES IT REALLY MAKE THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE?

>> IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE OUTYEAR STORIES THAT MUCH.

I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA CASH ON HAND TO COVER SOME FUTURE EXPENSES IF THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO, BUT THE OUTYEAR STORY IS UNCHANGED FROM WHAT WE SAW OVER THE SUMMER, WHICH IS THE KIND OF REEMERGENCE OF MULTIYEAR, MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BUDGET GAPS ON THE HORIZON.

>> AND I KNOW A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE STATE COMPTROLLER WAS WARNING OF A $310 MILLION DEFICIT, OR MAYBE IT WAS DIVISION OF BUDGET THAT WAS WARNING OF IT.

SO DO WE SEE A CHANGE OF THAT IN THIS REPORT GOING INTO HER BUDGET?

4 >> YEAH.

NOTHING IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

WE'RE STILL BALANCED, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

SO THE PLAN IS STILL SET TO CLOSE OUT WITH ZERO OR EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPLUS TO FINISH THE YEAR.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS BOTH NOT ONLY THOSE BUDGET GAPS ON THE HORIZON, BUT EVENTUALLY IN A COUPLE YEARS TIME, ONE-TIME FEDERAL AID WILL GO AWAY.

TEMPORARY TAX INCREASES WILL SUNSET AT SOME POINT, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF KIND OF CONCERN AND RISK ABOUT THE ECONOMY MORE BROADLY.

SO EVEN UNDER THE STATUS QUO, WE HAVE BUDGET GAPS.

WHAT IF THERE IS A RECESSION OR SOME OTHER DISRUPTION?

>> YEAH.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE OUTYEARS?

I GUESS THAT WOULD BE THE LONG TERM THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT.

SO IT'S LOOKING OKAY GOING INTO THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WHAT ARE WE TRENDING TOWARDS IN TERMS OF-- I KNOW THERE ARE PROJECTIONS OF A DEFICIT, SOME NOT GREAT FINANCIAL NEWS, BUT WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY TWO THINGS IN THE LONGER TERM, FIRST OF ALL, IS THOSE BUDGET GAPS.

UP TO $6 BILLION IN FOUR YEARS TIME THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH OVER TIME.

THE OTHER IS EXPIRATION OF NON-RECURRING RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL AID OR TAX INCREASES.

SO THAT WILL 5 OPEN UP SOME REALLY BIG NEEDS TO CLOSE THE GAP DOWN THE LINE.

I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS WHERE THE STATE DID REALLY WELL AROUND THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS SET ASIDE A LOT MORE IN RAINY DAY SAVINGS THAN WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST.

SO THAT'S MONEY THAT YOU CAN'T TOUCH UNLESS THERE'S A DISRUPTION OR A RECESSION, BUT THE STATE IS MUCH BETTER POSITION TO DEAL WITH THAT TYPE OF SITUATION IF WE KEEP SAVING.

>> CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW WE GET FROM BEING IN AN OKAY POSITION RIGHT NOW TO HAVING THAT MAYBE $6 BILLION DEFICIT IN FOUR YEARS?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> YEAH.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT CHANGING WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR GROWTH OVER TIME.

SO IF YOU EXPECT A FULLY BALANCED FINANCIAL PLAN OVER FIVE YEARS, LIKE WE HAD IN APRIL, AND THEN YOU SEE A KIND OF OVERALL AGGIE GREAT DECREASING IN THE RATE OF GROWTH IN PERSONAL INCOME, WHICH IS OUR BIGGEST TAX SOURCE IS ON PERSONAL INCOME.

IF YOU LOWER THAT TRAJECTORY LINE, OVER TIME, THE GAP GETS WIDER AND WIDER IN THE OUTYEARS.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING WHY THE GAPS ARE AS BIG AS $6 BILLION IN 2027.

>> SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE RECESSION, YOU HAD MENTIONED WE PUT SOME RAINY FUNDS IN, ARE WE IN A 6 GOOD PLACE IF WE DO ACTUALLY ENTER A RECESSION?

>> I THINK THE ANSWER THERE IS A LITTLE BITTERSWEET.

WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN WE USED TO BE.

WE USED TO ONLY HAVE ABOUT $2.5 BILLION IN THE REAL RAINY DAY FUND LOCKBOX.

BETWEEN ALL SOURCES OF RESERVES, THE PLAN IS TO GET UP TO ABOUT 19 BILLION.

SO FAR, FAR BETTER THAN WE HAD.

THE REALITY IS A TYPICAL RECESSION WOULD PROBABLY HIT US FOR ABOUT $40 BILLION.

SO YOU'RE STILL DEALING WITH LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED.

>> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE DON'T HAVE IT UNFORTUNATELY.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

GREAT STUFF, PATRICK ORECKI FROM THE CITIZENS BUDGET COMMISSION.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE NEWS OF THE WEEK NOW AND MOVE ON TO THE STATE'S OVERDOSE CRISIS.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, NEW YORK WAS MAKING SOME GOOD PROGRESS ON REDUCING THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS EACH YEAR.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE BEFORE THAT, THE STATE'S OVERDOSE CRISIS HAD BEEN GETTING WORSE.

FUELED MOSTLY BY OPIOIDS AND HEROIN.

AND THEN THINGS CHANGED AGAIN WHEN COVID HIT.

OVERDOSE DEATHS HAVE ONLY GONE UP SINCE THEN.

SO NEW STRATEGIES TO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE ARE NOW IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

ALEXIS YOUNG REPORTS.

7 [ THEME MUSIC ] >>Reporter: NEW YORK'S OPIOID CRISIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE STATE SAW A 50% SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM OPIOIDS IN 2020, ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

AND LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER WAS EVEN HIGHER WITH ABOUT 4,500 DEATHS STATEWIDE, BUT BEFORE 2020, THE NUMBERS WERE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN.

SO THE CONVERSATION ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS HAS NOW CHANGED WITH THE FOCUS ON HARM REDUCTION.

THAT'S WHEN THE GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE WHILE THEY BATTLE AN ADDICTION.

DR.CHINAZO CUNNINGHAM IS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE OFFICE OF ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.

>> HARM REDUCTION IS NOT NEW.

HARM REDUCTION 1 REALLY, YOU KNOW, AN APPROACH AND A SET OF PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES THAT REALLY FOCUS ON REDUCING HARMS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANCE USE.

HARM REDUCTION WAS REALLY BORN OUT OF HIV, BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF REALLY FOCUSING ON DRUG USE, THERE'S BEEN MORE RECENTLY A WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE HARM REDUCTION.

>> AND HARM REDUCTION COMES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS.

WE FIND ONE HERE AT PROJECT SAFE POINT, RUN BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES CARE COORDINATION SERVICES IN THE CAPITOL REGION.

IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES HARM REDUCTION 8 SERVICES LIKE A CLEAN SYRINGE EXCHANGE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE.

THEY ALSO OFFER TRAINING FOR WHAT TO DO WHEN AN OVERDOSE HAPPENS, LIKE USING THE LOCK ZONE OR NARCAN TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

CANDACE ELLIS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAID THAT'S TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR RECOVERY INSTEAD OF A MORE TRADITIONAL MODEL.

>> I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH MORE LIKE A MEDICAL MODEL.

SO YOU GO IN.

SOMEONE ASSESSES YOU, GIVES YOU A DIAGNOSIS POTENTIALLY AND SAYS, HERE IS YOUR TREATMENT PLAN AND THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MANAGE THAT PARTICULAR CONDITION OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

HERE, IT'S REALLY SOMEONE MIGHT COME IN, SAY, LOOKING FOR SAFER INJECTION SUPPLIES OR TO GET SOME NARCAN WE'LL JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION.

YOU KNOW, IS THIS ALL YOU NEED?

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN HELP YOU WITH TODAY?

>>Reporter: ELLIS AND OTHERS AT PROJECT SAFE POINT WANT TO CHANGE THE PUBLIC'S VIEW OF ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE USE.

THAT WAY, THEY SAY PEOPLE WILL BE MORE WILLING TO ASK FOR HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT.

THAT COULD ALSO MAKE IT EASIER, THEY SAY, TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SERVICES LIKE PROJECT SAFE POINT'S LEAD PROGRAM.

THAT PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO WHEN THEY COME ACROSS SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE, THEY CAN REFER THEM TO 9 COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE PROJECT SAFE POINT.

TARA MADRID IS A LEAD OR L-E-A-D CASE MANAGER.

>> IT STAND FORCE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION.

SO OFTENTIMES, WE ARE GETTING REFERRALS FROM APD, ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WHAT ANOTHER DOING IS AT THE POINT OF CONTACT OF A POSSIBLE CRIME BEING COMMITTED, THEY SEND THEM OUR WAY AND SAY, HEY THIS PERSON SEEMS LIKE THEY MIGHT NEED SOME SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO WHEN THEY COME TO US, WHAT WE DO IS WE GO OVER A BRIEF INTAKE WITH THEM.

GENERALLY GET AN IDEA OF LIKE WHERE ARE YOU AT IN YOUR LIFE AND YOUR NEEDS AND WHAT IS THAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON RIGHT NOW?

SO THEN WE SET UP A SERVICE PLAN WITH THEM.

>>Reporter: AND THAT PLAN WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE DEPENDING ON THEIR SITUATION.

FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT CAN REALLY HELP TO WORK WITH SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THROUGH IT.

THAT'S WHERE HEATHER SHARBINO COMES IN.

SHE'S A STATE CERTIFIED RECOVERING PEER ADVOCATE, WHICH IS SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLED WITH SUBSTANCE USE IN THE PAST AND CAN SHARE HOW THEY GOT THROUGH IT.

>> BEING A PEER, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT.

YOU OFTEN KNOW THE BARRIERS WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND NAVIGATING IT AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT.

ONE THING I CAN SAY ABOUT HARM REDUCTION, RISK REDUCTION, RECOVERY OR JUST A HUMAN, 10 PERIOD, CONNECTION, CONNECTION IS ALWAYS THE START OF A RELATIONSHIP AND MOST TIMES, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE JUST GRATEFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THEM AND LET THEM BE THEM WITHOUT SAYING YOU NEED TO DO THIS, YOU NEED TO DO THAT.

>>Reporter: IT'S ALL A PART OF PROJECT SAFE POINT'S BIG MESSAGE, THAT PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION NEED HELP, NOT PUNISHMENT.

BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT RECOGNIZING WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS MORE HELP THAN PROJECT SAFE POINT CAN GIVE THEM.

GROUPS LIKE PROJECT SAFE POINT CAN SOMETIMES SERVE AS A STEPPING STONE.

FOR SOME, IT'S ABOUT GETTING THAT A TREATMENT PROGRAM.

EITHER THROUGH A DOCTOR OR LICENSED FACILITY.

FOR JAKE, WHO DIDN'T GIVE HIS LAST NAME, THAT WAS DYNAMITE YOUTH CENTER, WHICH HAS FACILITIES IN BROOKLYN AND THE HUDSON VALLEY.

>> I WAS IN SCHOOL SHOOTING, 2018, YEAH, HEROIN.

THREW MY LIFE AWAY.

I HAD THE CHANCE OF PLAYING BASEBALL AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.

I THREW IT AWAY.

I GOT ARRESTED.

I WAS FACING PRISON TIME AT 16 YEARS OLD, AND AFTER I GOT OUT, HEROIN HELPED ME COPE WITH EVERYTHING.

>>Reporter: JAKE WAS SPEAKING AT A MEETING AT THE STATE'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND ADVISORY BOARD.

THAT BOARD WAS SET UP THIS YEAR BY STATE LAW.

AFTER OPIOID COMPANIES AGREED TO PAY THE 11 STATE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS.

THAT WAS TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT OVER THEIR ROLE IN THE OPIOID CRISIS AND NOW, THE ADVISORY BOARD WILL DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.

THAT'S HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

STATE SENATOR GUSTAVO RIVERA IS A DEMOCRAT WHO CHAIRS THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, AND HE ALSO SPONSORED THE BILL THAT CREATED THE ADVISORY BOARD.

>> AS WE HAVE BEEN GETTING-- GETTING SOME OF THESE COMPANIES TO PONY UP AS WE REACH SETTLEMENTS, THEN WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY GOES TOWARDS ACTUALLY FIXING THE HARM AND REPAIRING THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE-- BY OVERDOSES AND BY THE DEATHS OR BY THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED JUST, PERIOD, BY THIS OPIOID CRISIS.

WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOARD, YOU SAW THE BOARD, WITH THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE BOARD, LIKE THE BOARD HAS TO VOTE ON IT, TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THAT MONEY'S GOING TO BE USED SO IT IS AROUND RECOVERY, YOU KNOW, HARM REDUCTION, AND TREATMENT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WHAT THE MONEY IS USED FOR.

>>Reporter: THE BOARD STARTED ITS WORK IN JUNE AND HAS HELD REGULAR MEETINGS SINCE THEN AND WHILE THAT MONEY IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN CURBING THE OPIOID CRISIS, OTHER STRATEGIES FOR HARM REDUCTION ARE NOW EMERGING IN NEW YORK CITY AS WELL.

12 >> SENATE BILL S-603 OR ASSEMBLY BILL 8224 ADVOCATES FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION SERVICES AT SITES LIKE ON POINT NYC.

BOTH ARE EAST HARLEM AND WASHINGTON HEIGHTS LOCATIONS OFFERS FOLKS WHO USE SUBSTANCES A MEDICALLY SAFE PLACE TO CONSUME THEIR DOSE AND RECEIVE HOLISTIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT DON'T DEMONIZE THEIR CLIENTS BUT KEEPS THEM ALIVE.

>> SO WE DON'T PROVIDE ANY DRUGS.

WE JUST PROVIDE CLEAN MATERIALS FOR PEOPLE TO CONSUME DRUGS WITH.

WHATEVER THEY DEEM AS ONE DOSE WE ALLOW THEM TO DO.

IF THAT'S TIME IN THE SMOKING ROOM OR IF THAT'S INJECTION TIME, WE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, RIGHT.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY DOES THEIR DOSE AND THEN GETS GOING.

>>Reporter: RAYCE SAMUELSON IS THE OVERDOSE PREVENTION SPECIALIST, OR RESPONSIBLE PERSON IN CHARGE, AT ON POINT'S EAST HARLEM LOCATION, WHICH OPENED LAST YEAR ALONG WITH ON POINT'S OTHER FACILITY IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE FIRST TWO OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS TO OPEN IN THE COUNTRY.

THE PRIMARY DRAW HERE IS THAT IT'S A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO USE DRUGS WITH MEDICAL HELP ON STANDBY.

THAT'S SAMUELSON, WHO'S READY WITH AN OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG IN CASE IT'S NEEDED.

THAT WAY, USERS CAN STAY ALIVE AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR BATTLE WITH ADDICTION.

13 >> WE CAN SLOWLY BRING THE NARCAN UP, .4 MILLIGRAMS AT A TIME TO EVENTUALLY BRING SOMEONE OUT OF OVERDOSE.

WE NEED TO BRING THEM OUT AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

SO YEAH, THAT'S REALLY A UNIQUE THING TO THIS PROGRAM, A UNIQUE THING ABOUT OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

WE'RE ABLE TO RESPOND SO QUICKLY THAT AN OVERDOSE IN HERE ISN'T WHAT AN OVERDOSE ON THE STREET MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEW.

>>Reporter: HAVING A COMBINATION OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ON HAND AND A SUPPLY OF NARCAN HAS HELPED ON POINT SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS THERE, AND THEY ALSO OFFER OTHER HARM REDUCTION SERVICES AS WELL.

>> SO WE HAVE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS ON SITE, IF PEOPLE WANT TO TEST THEIR DRUGS FOR FENTANYL.ED REALITY IS EVERY BAG OF HEROIN WE'VE TESTED SINCE 2017 HAS FENTANYL.

SO IT'S REALLY OUR FENTANYL TEST STRIPS ARE NOT SUPER HELPFUL FOR OUR PEOPLE USING HEROIN, USING OPIATES.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T USING OPIATES, WHO ARE USING STIMULANTS, UPPERS, COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE, CRACK, RIGHT?

>>Reporter: ON POINT FACILITIES INCLUDE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO SHOWER, DO THEIR LAUNDRY, GET FOOD, AND SEE A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

SUSAN SPRATT MANAGES CLINICAL SERVICES THERE.

14 >> WE DO A LOT OF WHAT WE CALL BRIDGE CARE.

SO IT'S PRIMARY CARE STUFF, BUT FOR OUR FOLKS WHO HAD NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES IN TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, WE'RE JUST SORT OF TRYING TO BRIDGE CARE SO THAT WE CAN THEN CONNECT THEM TO PRIMARY CARE CLINICS THAT ARE GONNA TREAT THEM WELL.

>>Reporter: THEY EVEN HAVE GUIDED MEDITATION AND AURICULA ACUPUNCTURE, WHICH IS-- >> ACUPUNCTURE THAT IS DONE IN THE EARS FOR DETOX THERAPY WHEN PEOPLE ARE DETOXING OFF OF SUBSTANCES, IT SPECIFICALLY WAS DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT PEOPLE GETTING OFF OPIATES AND MANAGING THEIR WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS, BUT IT ALSO HELPS WITH STRESS RELIEF AND ANXIETY AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A DRUG USER TO BENEFIT FROM.

>>Reporter: KAILA, WHO DIDN'T GIVE HER LAST NAME, IS A HOLISTIC SPECIALIST WITH ON POINT.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT THEY DO THERE, SHE SAYS, BECAUSE DRUG USE AND TRAUMA ARE OFTEN CONNECTED.

SO TREATING BOTH CAN HAVE A LASTING EFFECT.

>> WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE MASS INCARCERATION TRAUMA, HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THE VERY RACIST AND CLASSIST WAR ON DRUGS, RIGHT?

WE SEE OUR PEOPLE AND WE KNOW THAT WE ARE WORTHY OF MORE SO THIS IS A 15 WAY OF HEALING SO THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE HOPE.

>>Reporter: LIKE PROJECT SAFE POINT IN THE CAPITAL REGION, HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES ARE KEY HERE AT ON POINT, WHERE THE GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE SURVIVE AND FIND TREATMENT SHOULD THEY WANT IT.

IT'S ALSO WHERE WE FIND WILL.

HE USES ON POINT TO-- >> MAKE SURE I GET CLEAN SUPPLIES FOR WHEN I GO HOME, CLEAN SYRINGES, NEEDLES.

I JUST USE THEM FOR THE BASIC NECESSITIES, BUT OVERALL, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM, A WONDERFUL FACILITY.

>>Reporter: WILL'S NO STRANGER TO TREATMENT BUT-- >> I WASN'T THERE WILLING.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS COURT MANDATED.

THERE WASN'T NO ENTHUSIASM TO GET SOBER.

SO IT'S LIKE ONCE I LEFT THE PROGRAM, RESERVATION WAS RIGHT THERE.

>>Reporter: NOT EVERYONE SUPPORTS FACILITIES LIKE ON POINT.

OPPONENTS SEE THEM AS PLACES WHERE ADDICTION IS ENCOURAGED AND WHERE USERS ARE ENABLED.

WILL SAID HE SEES WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

>> I CAN SEAT DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, IF THEY HAVE A SAFE CONSUMPTION SITE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME OUT YOUR APARTMENT AND SEE A USER IN THE STAIRCASE SHOOTING UP.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE USERS IN THE BACK OF YOUR BUILDING OR IN THE DOORWAYS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THIS IS A LOT 16 BETTER.

IT TAKES THE DRUGS OFF THE STREETS, OUT OF THE CIVILIANS' FACE.

>>Reporter: ON POINT'S TWO LOCATIONS ARE STILL THE ONLY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS IN THE STATE THAT COULD CHANGE IF ASSEMBLYMEMBER LINDA ROSENTHAL'S AND SENATE HEALTH CHAIR RIVERA'S BILL PASSES.

IT WOULD ALLOW OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS TO BE SET UP AROUND THE STATE.

SO FAR, THE BILL HASN'T HAD ENOUGH SUPPORT TO PASS.

IN HARLEM AND THE CAPITAL REGION FOR "NEW YORK NOW," ALEXIS YOUNG.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND WE'LL PUT SOME RESOURCES UP ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE.

AS ALWAYS, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG, BUT MOVING ON NOW TO ANOTHER PRESSING ISSUE IN NEW YORK.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THERE IS A HOUSING CRISIS IN NEW YORK, AND THE PROBLEM IS REALLY TWO-FOLD.

FOR ONE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING TO MEET THE DEMAND, BUT FOR TWO, THE HOUSING THAT IS AVAILABLE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.

YOU NEED TO EARN $110,000 A YEAR TO AFFORD THE MEDIAN ASKING RENT IN NEW YORK CITY, THAT'S ACCORDING TO A SURVEY FROM THE CITY'S HOUSING AGENCY.

SO THERE IS A GAP HERE AND FOR MORE ON THAT, I SPOKE WITH JAMES LLOYD FROM THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

[ THEME MUSIC ] 17 JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO WE KNOW THAT NEW YORK HAS A HOUSING CRISIS.

IT'S HAD A HOUSING CRISIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

HOW BAD IS THE HOUSING CRISIS IN NEW YORK?

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?

>> OH, I MEAN, IT'S THE WORSE IT'S EVER BEEN.

YOU KNOW, THE MEDIAN RENTER INCOME IN NEW YORK CITY IS $50,000.

MEANWHILE, YOU'D HAVE TO BE ABLE TO-- WOULD YOU HAVE TO HAVE AROUND $110,000 TO AFFORD THE AVERAGE AVAILABLE APARTMENT WHICH RENTS FOR $2,800 A MONTH.

THERE'S ACTUALLY NO RENTAL STOCK AVAILABLE AT THE LOWEST LEVELS OF INCOME FOR WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

IT'S REALLY DIRE AND THE METRO AREA NEEDS IT 45,000 UNITS OF NEW HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE'S A MAJOR SHORTAGE.

>> SO IS THAT THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS?

SOME PEOPLE I THINK SEE THIS AS JUST A COST PROBLEM, AS IN THE RENT IS TOO HIGH.

IS IT MORE THAT THE RENT IS TOO HIGH, OR DO WE NOT HAVE ENOUGH UNITS AND HOMES TO HOUSE PEOPLE?

>> WELL, THE RENT IS TOO HIGH BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH UNITS.

I MEAN, THERE'S A HUGE SUPPLY ISSUE AND THAT LACK OF SUPPLY IS WHAT HAS DRIVEN UP RENTS TO 18 THESE DEGREES.

I MEAN, IT'S A CLASSIC MICRO ECONOMICS PROBLEM.

>> IS IT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM, IN PARTICULAR, OR IS THE HOUSING PROBLEM IN GENERAL?

I THINK IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IF IT'S AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT, BUT YOU TELL ME.

>> IT'S BOTH.

I MEAN, YES, WE NEED A LOT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ABSOLUTELY.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE LACK ADEQUATE HOUSING ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE HOUSING AT LOW INCOME LEVELS IT HITS THE POOREST FIRST.

INCOME NEW YORK CITY HAS THE MOST HOMELESS PER CAPITA IN AMERICA AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE ECONOMICALLY HOMELESS AND THAT'S DUE TO THE OVERALL HOUSING AVAILABILITY.

>> HAS THE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM GOTTEN WORSE AS WELL AS THE HOUSING PROGRAM GOT WORSE?

I GUESS THEY'RE THE SAME PROBLEM.

WE TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT THAN AFFORDABLE HOUSING A LOT OF THE TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE HERE REPRESENTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO IT'S OKAY IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER IT, BUT DO WE SEE HOMELESSNESS ON THE RISE TOO ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY?

>> YES.

NO, IT'S AT A PEAK AT WELL.

THAT'S PARTLY DUE 19 TO ECONOMICS AND DUE TO THE OVERALL HOUSING CRISIS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE SEEN THE RECENT MIGRANT CRISIS AS WELL FROM THE SOUTHWEST BORDER.

SO ALL THOSE NUMBERS ADD UP AND WE'RE AT PEAK POPULATIONS AND SHELTERS AS WE SPEAK.

>> SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

I MEAN THIS IS A REALLY COMPLICATED PROBLEM IN TERMS OF HOUSING.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT EASY TO SAY, BUT IF WE'RE JUST SAYING BUILD MORE UNITS THAT SOUNDS EASY, BUT I THINK IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FIRST STEPS THAT A GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL COULD TAKE MAYBE IN THE NEXT YEAR TO GET US ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO FIXING THIS CRISIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LOOK, I THINK THIS ANSWER HAS TWO PARTS, RIGHT.

FOR ONE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS AND I REALLY, YOU KNOW, TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THAT AND WHAT HOUSES HOMELESS IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SECTION 8.

OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO CONTINUE ROBUST DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE TYPES OF HOUSING AND THEN, OF COURSE TO ADDRESS THE OVERALL HOUSING SHORTAGE, WE NEED, YOU KNOW, AGGRESSIVE ACTION FROM THE GOVERNOR AND CONGRATULATIONS TO HER, THE STATE'S FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR TO BE ELECTED, AND WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT SHE CAMPAIGNED ON HOUSING.

SO SHE STATED THAT SHE AIMS TO SEE HALF A MILLION TO A MILLION OF NEW HOUSING 20 DEVELOPED IN THE STATE OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A LOT OF STATE ACTION TO GET THIS DONE.

WE JUST GENERALLY THE PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY RESTRICTIVE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, SO ZONING, SUBSIDY VISION REGULATIONS AND THIS SORT OF THING.

AND THERE'S JUST NOT MANY PLACES TO BUILD HOUSING, AFFORDABLE OR MARKET RATE, AND YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT WE NEED IS WHAT WE CALL AS OF RIGHT.

AS OF RIGHT IS WHEN YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND BUILD HOUSING AND JUST APPLY FOR PERMITS WITHOUT HAVING TO GET SOMETHING LIKE A ZONING CHANGE.

SO WE REALLY NEED THAT OPTION TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP MORE HOUSING ON ANY SORT OF SCALE.

>> IF YOU DON'T GET THAT OPTION, IS THE ZONING, IS THAT A NEW YORK CITY SPECIFIC OPTION?

WOULD THAT BE UP TO THE CITY TO CHANGE THE ZONING?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL TO MAKE THIS EASIER?

>> YES.

AND THE TOWNS THAT HAVE ZONING, WHICH IS VAST MAJORITY OF THEM, COULD CHOOSE TO LIBERALIZE THEIR ZONING AND MAKE IT EASIER TO BUILD.

AND YOU SEE SORT OF DISCUSSIONS IN THE CITY ABOUT DOING THAT.

FOR INSTANCE, ZONING FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITY IS MAYOR ADAM'S INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.

YOU KNOW, SENATOR MAY 21 HAS PROPOSED A STATE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PROCESS SIMILAR TO THE MASSACHUSETTS 40D STATUTE AND IT'S GETTING PRETTY OBSCURE.

I KNOW THIS.

THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO PROPOSE PROJECT REGARDLESS OF LOCAL ZONING IF IT WERE PARTIALLY AFFORDABLE AND HAVE SORT OF DIFFERENT PATH.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR A STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEED STUDY THAT CAN POINT TO EACH TOWN OR IN NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY DISTRICT AND SAY THIS AREA NEEDS X NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS AND X NUMBER OF MICRO RATE UNITS TO MEET THE LOCAL HOUSING NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR IN ALBANY.

JAMES LLOYD FROM THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE HER PLAN FOR THE STATE BUDGET IN JANUARY WITH A FINAL SPENDING PLAN DUE IN MARCH.

UNTIL THEN, THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >>Announcer: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET AND BY THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION 22