Mamdani Advances “Just Home” Supportive Housing Project Opposed by Adams

Mayor Mamdani announced on Monday the revival of the Just Home supportive housing project, which would convert a vacant building on the campus of Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx into 83 units meant for ex-inmates with serious health conditions (e.g. heart failure, terminal cancer).

“I know that we have walked a long, hard, contentious path to arriver where we are today,” Mamdani told reporters at Jacobi Medical Center in Pelham Bay. “And my sincere belief is that soon, Just Home will be seen as clear evidence of New York’s commitment to a new era, where every one of our neighbors, even those who have made mistakes in the past, is entitled to dignity and safety, and to a home that they can call their own.”

Just Home was initially championed by Mayor Adams near the start of his term, but his administration withdrew support last year, with First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro pushing lawmakers last fall to use a different site for the project before a decisive vote.

Local residents were also opposed to Just Home, as well as their Councilwoman at that time, Republican Kristy Marmorato, which posed an obstacle due to the legislative body’s tradition of “member deference” to councilmembers stances on matters in their districts. Just Home passed a Council vote nonetheless in September, marking a rare disregard in the city’s legislative body for its own custom. Marmorato’s successor, Democrat Shirley Aldebol, favors Just Home.

The mayor received high praise from Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals – the largest public health care program in the country – who thanked him for the “amazing commitment” exemplified by the project. Katz appeared in line with the mayor’s broad progressive priority of addressing homelessness directly by providing housing, with other forms of supportive services (e.g. treatment for substance abuse, psychiatric care) to follow – an approach known as Housing First in academic circles. Evidence indicates that this model eases pressure on other public services like hospitals and jails, and has even shown promise in related challenges like substance abuse treatment.

“As a primary care doctor, I know that the most important prescription for my unhoused patients is housing,” Katz said on Monday. “Unlike blood tests and hospitalizations and MRI scans, housing changes the arc of someone’s life.”

The nonprofit Fortune Society – helmed by CEO Stanley Richards, who himself was formerly incarcerated – will run services at the new facility. Richards told reporters on Monday that the renovated building will “provide a mix of permanent and supportive housing with on-site case management, care management, and wraparound service under one roof.”