BY JASON COHEN
A Manhattan nonprofi t
that provides outpatient mental
health and addiction services
was hoping to expand
its footprint into the South
Bronx, but Community Board
1 rejected the proposal citing
too many clinics already in
the area.
On Sept. 30, the board voted
down a proposal by the Emma
Bowen Community Service
Center to rent space at 2582
Third Ave., to provide outpatient
addiction services. The
consensus of the board was
although the area is known
for drug use, it is also already
oversaturated with clinics
and shelters that provide mental
health services.
In fact, within a three- to
fi ve-block radius of the proposed
location is Damian
Family Care Center, 2604
Third Ave., and a safe haven
shelter at 345 E. 146th St. Additionally,
there is a mental
health clinic near Roberto Clemente
Plaza and a detox center,
located at 298 Third Ave.
“The full board has always
told the health committee
that they are tired of these
programs coming into the district,”
said Brenda Goodwin,
chair of the board’s Health
and Human Services Committee.
“At some point in time
I hope we would put a moratorium
on these programs coming
into the district.”
Fellow board member Ricardo
Cosme Ruiz felt the
area needed to be revitalized.
“That whole area is in need
of work,” he said. “I think
that it’s time we start taking
steps and really not giving a
letter of support to this type
of service. We’re not against
services. We’re just saying we
have enough of those services
in that area. Adding another
one just doesn’t make any
sense.”
NYC Councilwoman Diana
Ayala, a Democrat who
represents Mott Haven, is
also opposed to bringing an
additional clinic to Third Avenue.
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, OCT. 8-14, 2021 BTR
Jose Rodriguez, Ayala’s
chief of staff, told the Bronx
Times the lawmaker is not
“anti-shelter or anti-clinic,”
but objects to communities
being oversaturated with
them.
“The problem is you put all
these entities in one location,
and you are not giving us our
fair share of resources,” he
said.
While a representative
from the Bowen Community
Center was not present at the
Sept. 30 meeting, Patricia C.
Jordan, the center’s board
chairperson, spoke with the
Bronx Times about what the
nonprofi t offers and could do
for the South Bronx. Bowen,
which has existed for more
than three decades, is one of
Harlem’s leading community
based organizations, that provides
supportive mental, behavioral
health and addiction
services to clients throughout
the fi ve boroughs, Bowen
said.
Some of the programs it
The vacant South Bronx site, 2582 Third Ave., where a Manhattan-based
nonprofi t was hoping to lease space for a mental health clinic. Photo
Adrian Childress
offers include: a therapeutic
preschool for children with
behavioral and developmental
issues, outpatient mental
health services for children
and adolescents, programs
for adults and seniors dealing
with mental health and addiction
recovery challenges
and a care management team
that provides advocacy and
services to clients and homebound
individuals.
While Jordan said Bowen
is disappointed CB 1 was not
in favor of them coming to the
South Bronx, the nonprofi t
will continue to help people
throughout NYC.
“We remain committed
to expanding our programs
and services so that they can
continue to reach more individuals
who are in need,” she
said. “This includes fi nding
additional suitable locations
throughout the City of New
York and working with those
communities to bring our services
to their residents.”
CB1 rejects Third Avenue
mental health clinic
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