Published May 7, 2026 · Reviewed September 26, 2026
This article summarizes a City of New York funding announcement. The funding does not guarantee that a particular service, job, or appointment is available today. Confirm current services directly with the organization involved.
What New York City announced
On May 7, 2026, the Mayor’s Office announced a $12 million investment in peer-led substance-use recovery services. According to the city, the money will be distributed over four years and is expected to support 500 new peer-specialist positions through community-based organizations.
The announcement says the funding comes from New York City’s opioid settlement fund. It is intended to support staffing, mobile outreach, peer certification training and scholarships, and enrollment in recovery services. The city described the investment as part of its broader HealthyNYC goal of reducing overdose deaths by 25% by 2030.
What is a peer specialist?
A peer specialist is a trained worker who draws on personal experience with substance use and recovery to support other people. Peer support is non-clinical: peers do not replace doctors, therapists, emergency responders, or licensed treatment programs.
Depending on the program and role, a peer specialist may help someone:
- Understand available treatment and recovery-support options.
- Prepare for an intake appointment or connect with a community program.
- Develop recovery goals and practical coping strategies.
- Stay engaged after treatment, hospitalization, or an overdose response.
- Navigate transportation, identification, benefits, and other barriers to care.
Peer support can strengthen trust and engagement, especially when a person has had difficult experiences with health or social-service systems. Results still depend on the individual, the program, and access to appropriate clinical and social support; peer services do not guarantee recovery outcomes.
Which organizations are expected to receive funding?
The city announcement names seven community organizations:
- Community Health Action of Staten Island
- Exponents
- The Fortune Society
- Odyssey House
- Phoenix House
- Let’s Talk Safety
- Samaritan Daytop Village
Inclusion in the announcement does not tell a reader which services each organization will add, when a new program will begin, or who will be eligible. Those details may differ by organization and contract. Contact an organization directly before relying on a specific service or opening.
What the investment may mean for New Yorkers
If the plan is carried out as described, New Yorkers may encounter more trained peers in recovery centers, outreach teams, and mobile programs. That could create more entry points for people who are not ready for formal treatment, need help returning to care, or face practical barriers to staying connected.
The investment may also expand paid career pathways for New Yorkers with lived experience. However, the city announcement is a funding commitment, not a hiring notice. Job titles, qualifications, certification requirements, wages, and application timelines should be confirmed with the participating organizations.
Why the announcement matters now
The city cited provisional data showing that overdose deaths remained stable from January through September 2025 after a substantial decline in 2024. New York City recorded 2,192 overdose deaths in 2024, down from 3,056 in 2023. The same city data show that overdose deaths continued to affect Black and Latino New Yorkers, people living in high-poverty neighborhoods, and adults ages 55 to 64 at especially high rates.
A one-year decline does not end the overdose crisis. Long-term progress depends on continued access to evidence-based treatment, harm reduction, mental-health care, housing and social support, and recovery services that people can reach and trust.
How to find help now
You do not need to wait for these newly funded services to begin before looking for support.
- Understand NYC treatment options, including outpatient, residential, withdrawal management, and medications for addiction treatment.
- Explore resources by borough and practical questions about access, language, transit, and waitlists.
- Read guidance for families supporting someone with a substance-use concern.
- Use the crisis and overdose resource guide when immediate support may be needed.
Sources
- NYC Mayor’s Office: Mayor Mamdani Invests $12 Million to Expand Peer-Led Substance-Use Recovery Services Across New York City, May 7, 2026.
- NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Opioid Settlement Fund report, March 25, 2026.
- NYC Health: Unintentional Drug Poisoning (Overdose) Deaths in New York City in 2024.
NYC Addiction Help is an independent information and navigation resource. We are not affiliated with the Mayor’s Office, NYC Health, or any organization named in this announcement, and we do not provide treatment or emergency services.