The First Year of Operations

“At times I struggled, but throughout the process, it gave me opportunity and it gave me the resources I needed by not judging me throughout my addiction to heroin and crack cocaine... wasn’t a lot of resources out there but the OPC, and they really gave me the opportunity to transition, to being sober and met me where I was at, and I’m very appreciative to that.”

Brian, Former OPC Participant

“This place means a lot to me but one of the things that is a big plus is that they have staff for everything like... on-site medical staff like nurses. That’s a very big plus because to have somebody just walk up to you and tell you hey you know I’m here for you... you feel like you’ve been missed... having a nurse tell you that, you feel big... she’s a professional. I don’t feel like a participant. I’m a member of the Washington Heights OPC.”

Los, OPC Participant

“Ever since I was young, I’ve had a lot of trauma. I’ve been arrested 33 times... nobody should be arrested for spitting on a floor or jaywalking... since I’ve been here I feel way better about certain things. Not only did I stop getting arrested but things in this center helped me so much from acupuncture to chiropractor to even the food services. The showers, I’m in a shelter now so nobody wants to go outside smelling dirty or anything... the laundry services help a lot and the staff, they treat you like a human being."

Steven, OPC Participant

“I’ve been in this business a long time... Maybe 5 years from now, we will be reacting to OPCs like we do safe syringe exchanges. That’s where we are heading. It’s going to be a no-brainer shortly.”

Theresa Tobin, Chief of Interagency Operations, NYPD

“I also use the DIC to get food, get out of the rain, the snow, the cold, the warmth, whichever, you know, whatever you get. Housing, food stamps, insurance, I mean anything that you really need in life, you can get here. You don’t have to worry about using outside, getting arrested, dying. It’s the one place that we have for us.”

Will, OPC Participant

"Thanks to the OPC I have managed to focus more on the OPC and the participants and my job because it's much more gratifying and I have left my use more to the side. Thank God I can start working and go home and not use. Today I can do that. A year and a half ago I had to use something, two, three, four times a day. And it's because there's so much to do at the OPC, so much to give, the connection we have with participants... You do it with love, especially when I was in their shoes. And I know what it feels like."

Clara, Staff and Participant

"Because of this place, I've never been in no central booking. I never got locked up out here for drugs and nothing like that. Or use of the drugs in the street and all that… I call this home on the low. You know what I mean? I call it home. This is my safe haven, you know what I mean?"

Luis, OPC Participant and Staff Member

“I’m from Washington Heights. I slept in a park for like four years. Nobody don’t see you for who you are, you’re just a homeless person. [A staff member] talked me into coming here... and I got the best treatment. I got treated like I was human. This place actually sees you... they try to help you the most. That’s a good feeling... being a part of society.”

Shawn, Participant