Finding Belonging: How Our Groups Build Community and Care
At OnPoint NYC, connection is care. Across our East Harlem and Washington Heights Wellness Hubs, we host a wide range of groups designed to promote healing, creativity, learning, and community. From mental health counseling and stress relief through acupuncture to art therapy, open mic, and health education, every group is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
A Variety of Groups for Every Need
Each day, our centers offer a mix of health-focused and recreational activities. Participants can join support groups, educational groups on topics ranging from current events, health conversations, and supportive counseling, or explore creative outlets like art therapy, open mic, karaoke, gardening, and even beekeeping.
At both our East Harlem and Washington Heights Drop-In Centers, participants can also access essential services such as hot meals, coffee, showers, and laundry. These low-barrier safe-spaces allow people to relax, socialize, and learn more about the full range of services OnPoint NYC offers.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Group sessions vary in structure, but all share a welcoming and nonjudgmental atmosphere. Facilitators and participants co-create the topics and agenda, whether it is a guided conversation, a creative project, or a skill building activity.
As Martha Ruiz, Associate Director of Low Threshold Services, explains, “We meet people where they are in their journey.” That approach means sessions are responsive to participants’ needs in real time, not bound by rigid formats.
How OnPoint NYC’s Approach Differs
Unlike traditional support groups, OnPoint NYC’s groups are participant driven and low threshold. There are no strict eligibility requirements or session limits. People can drop in when they feel ready, take breaks when needed, and always come back. This flexibility helps participants build trust, especially for those who have experienced stigma or been turned away by other systems.
Staff adapt each group to meet the specific needs of people who use drugs, sex workers, and others facing barriers to healthcare or housing. “We bring the services to them,” Martha says. “That is what meeting people where they are really means.”
How Groups Are Created
Many groups emerge organically from participant feedback or trends observed by staff. If there is growing interest in a topic such as stress management, creative expression, or housing readiness, staff collaborate to design a group that meets that need. Facilitators also receive ongoing group facilitation training to strengthen engagement, communication, and health education.
Lasting Impact
These groups do more than fill time. They help build trust and open pathways to care. Within these spaces, participants form relationships with staff and peers that often become the foundation for engaging in other services such as case management, housing support, or medical care. Over time, participants who start by joining a group may begin accessing additional supports across OnPoint NYC’s programs.
As Martha explains, case management and group activities complement each other by creating opportunities for people to feel safe, supported, and empowered to set their own goals.
A Model Rooted in Love and Dignity
Every program at OnPoint NYC stems from the same philosophy: stability begins with love. By providing spaces where people can heal, learn, and connect without fear of judgment, these groups embody OnPoint NYC’s mission to build community and help participants reclaim their lives, one conversation, one creative moment, and one act of care at a time.
Signing Up and Getting Involved
There is no complicated sign up process. Participants can simply walk in, speak with staff at the Drop In or Syringe Exchange desks, or connect through a case manager. All services are confidential and free, designed to be accessible for anyone seeking support or connection.
Expectations for attendees are simple: respect one another, engage as much or as little as feels right, and be open to building community. Some groups are participant led, while others are staff facilitated, allowing flexibility based on participants’ interests and comfort levels.
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Finding Belonging: How Our Groups Build Community and Care
At OnPoint NYC, connection is care. Across our East Harlem and Washington Heights Wellness Hubs, we host a wide range of groups designed to promote healing, creativity, learning, and community.
