History
Our History
OnPoint NYC’s history is rooted in decades of community-led harm reduction, activism, and care. Formed in 2022 through the merger of NYHRE and Washington Heights Corner Project, OnPoint NYC builds on a long legacy of meeting people where they are and responding to community needs with dignity and compassion.
From early underground syringe exchange efforts to operating the nation’s first government-sanctioned Overdose Prevention Centers, our work reflects the evolution of harm reduction in New York City and the collective effort to save lives, connect people to care, and strengthen communities.
Lincoln Detox
The Black Panther and Young Lords Parties established “the People’s Program” - the US’ first acupuncture-based detox center in the South Bronx to help folks detox off of opioids including Methadone. This movement has informed our current Holistic Services program.
ACT UP and Underground Syringe Exchange
As a result of the work of the ACT UP movement, early activists worked together to promote safety by distributing safe supplies to people who use drugs (PWUD) and people who engage in sex work (PWESW) in order to reduce the transfer of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV.
NYHRE Founded
A group of ACT UP activists doing underground syringe exchange incorporated NYHRE as a 501(c)3 organization and received one of New York State’s first legal syringe service contracts.
Washington Heights Street-Based Outreach
Jamie Favaro and a group of neighbors in Washington Heights began doing street-based syringe exchange, meeting people directly where they are and beginning to foster strong relationships with encampment-dwelling communities.
Washington Heights Corner Project Founded
Washington Heights Corner Project was incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization and began coupling their street-based work with building-based work.
Strategic Partnership and Bathroom Program
NYHRE and Washington Heights CORNER Project began working more closely, slowly merging their missions and staff. The seeds for OnPoint NYC were planted here. Both organizations also launched a protocol to respond to overdoses in programmatic bathrooms.
WHCP Loses its Lease
WHCP lost its lease amid concerns about the site becoming an Overdose Prevention Center pilot location. Following this loss, WHCP returned to its roots, focusing on street-based outreach alongside RV-based supportive services. The Outreach and Public Safety Team as it exists today grew out of this period and legacy.
30 Year Leases
In 2020, both NYHRE and WHCP negotiated 30 year leases. This solidified the organizations as community cornerstones and offered stability for programmatic expansion.
Overdose Prevention Centers Launch
On November 30th, 2021, OnPoint NYC launched its Overdose Prevention Centers in East Harlem and Washington Heights, the first in the United States. This was a direct response to the opioid crisis, to save lives, and connect PWUD with stabilizing supportive services.
Merger Completed
OnPoint NYC became an official 501(c)3organization, born from the merger of NYHRE and Washington Heights Corner Project.
Today
OnPoint NYC recently celebrated its fourth anniversary of operating the nation’s first government-sanctioned Overdose Prevention Centers and celebrates a decades-long legacy in low-threshold service provision. Since the opening of OnPoint NYC’s historic Overdose Prevention Centers, staff have intervened in thousands of overdoses, helping save lives, connect people to care, and foster safer, healthier communities for participants and neighbors alike.
