Harm Reduction in Shelters

July 2025 Newsletter

In the News

Overdose Deaths in NYC Shelters Reduced by Over 30%!

The 2024 annual report on deaths among people experiencing homelessness in NYC shows that drug overdose deaths in shelters dropped by 37% over the last two years. The Harm Reduction in Shelter Initiative began in 2023. Thank you to shelter staff for your heroic efforts to respond to and prevent overdose!

DHS Harm Reduction Team Receives

DSS Helping Hands Award

This past spring, the Harm Reduction in Shelters team received the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) Employee Programs Helping Hands Award for their work in DHS shelters to train staff in harm reduction practices to reduce overdose deaths.

From the award nomination: "The team's capacity building services offered to shelter providers are rooted in open communication, constructive feedback, and education. Recent substance use-related incidents, including suspected overdoses, are approached with care as vital learning opportunities with both shelter residents and staff members. Residents are provided risk reduction and safety planning counseling to foster safer practices, while staff members are engaged in discussion about how to create a safer environment within the shelter."

Learn more about the Harm Reduction in Shelters initiative approach.

August is Overdose Awareness Month!

International Overdose Awareness Day is on August 31. On this Overdose Awareness Day (and every day) we mourn the lives lost to overdose, and we renew our commitment to preventing overdose and drug/alcohol-related deaths.

Participate in the annual Overdose Awareness Day event!

Host an overdose awareness event at your shelter either leading up to or on Overdose Awareness Day. Find event ideas in the Overdose Awareness Day Toolkit. Email harmreduction@dss.nyc.gov for assistance planning your event.

View the Overdose Awareness Day Toolkit

New Harm Reduction Resource

New Flyer: Drug Checking at NYC Syringe Service Programs

More than two-thirds of drug overdoses in New York in 2024 involved fentanyl. Overdose from new drugs like xylazine, medetomidine and bromazolam are also on the rise. Safer drug use practices, like checking drugs for contaminants, is one way to prevent unintentional overdose. The following syringe service programs have machines that can check drugs for fentanyl and other dangerous contaminants:

Bronx:

BOOM!Health: 226 E. 144th St, Bronx

Manhattan:

OnPoint NYC (Washington Heights): 500 W. 180th St, New York
OnPoint NYC (East Harlem): 104-106 E. 126th St, New York
Harlem United: 321 W. 125th St, New York
Housing Works: 743 E. Ninth St, New York

Brooklyn:

VOCAL-NY: 300 Douglass St, Brooklyn

Share this information with clients and distribute the NYC Drug Checking flyer (in English and Spanish) at your shelters.

View the Drug Checking in NYC flyer

Sign up for the July or August DHS fentanyl test strip training to learn how to use fentanyl test strips and order testing kits for your shelter.
See the Harm Reduction in Shelters Toolkit for more client education resources.

Trainings for Shelter Staff

Training For All Shelter Staff:

DHS Overdose Response and Naloxone Training. July 9 & 23 (2 – 3 PM). Register

DHS Harm Reduction Training. July 14 & August 11 (2 – 3 PM). Register for the live training. Take the online Harm Reduction training anytime on Absorb.

DHS Fentanyl Test Strip Training. July 16 & August 20 (2 – 3 PM). Register

Integrating Early Childhood Mental Health & Substance Use Recovery. July 16 (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM). NYU Perinatal and Early Childhood Mental Health Network. Parenting in the context of traumatic stress, substance use and co-occurring disorders and the BRIGHT approach, an attachment-focused dyadic intervention. Learn more and register

Training: How to Apply for Mobile Mental Health Services through SPOA. August 5 (10 AM - Noon). NYC Health Dept. How to apply for SPOA services such as Shelter Partnered ACT, Intensive Mobile Team (IMT) and non-Medicaid Care Coordination. Learn more and register

Training for Shelter Overdose Prevention Champion Trainer:

Overdose Response and Naloxone Distribution Train the Trainer. July 9 (10 AM – Noon). Required for Shelter Overdose Prevention Champions. Register
See the flowchart of roles and responsibilities for Overdose Prevention Champions and Responders

Clinical Trainings:

Integrating Harm Reduction into Every Clinical Encounter. Clinical Education Initiative. Clinicians can use a variety of harm reduction techniques and communication skills to engage patients effectively, fostering trust and promoting safer drug use practices. Take the online training anytime here.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder, Among People Experiencing Homelessness. Clinical Education Initiative. This course is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the skills to diagnose and manage alcohol use disorder in homeless healthcare settings. Take the online training anytime here.

Harm Reduction Educational Resources for Shelter Staff

"If You See an Overdose" naloxone training flyer to train shelter staff and clients and post in high-use areas.

"Learning About K2" handout with information on staying safe while using K2

"Tips for Staying Safe" Handout with information for clients on staying safe if using drugs or alcohol

Find all resources in the Harm Reduction in Shelters Toolkit.

Jobs & Opportunities

Open Jobs

Harm Reduction Specialist @ SUS Shelters
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatrist @ Visiting Psychiatry Services (VPS) Human Resources Association (HRA)
Psychotherapist and Certified Peer Specialist @ Services for the Underserved shelters
Peer Navigator @ VIP Shelters
Certified Recovery Peer Advocate and CASAC @ ACACIA shelters

Health Care for People Experiencing Homelessness

H+H Express Care

(845) 397-2273

www.expresscare.nyc/dhs

Medical and behavioral health urgent care and medications. Online or by phone. 24/7, no out-of-pocket cost for DHS clients.

H+H Safety Net Clinics

Primary and specialty care for people experiencing homelessness. Clinics located at Bellevue, Lincoln, Woodhull, and Elmhurst Hospitals. Learn more and refer.

NYC Health Map

Find health services including substance use and harm reduction programs in NYC.

988

Call, text of visit on line for counseling and referrals to care.

Connect with us!

Email us any questions

The NYC Harm Reduction in Shelters Strategic Plan (2023-2024) was developed to build capacity of NYC shelters to prevent overdose and improve health and wellness. Each month, we will share tools and resources to support shelter staff to help clients reduce their risk.