In February, as NYC activated Code Blue in response to frigid temperatures, the Mayor’s Office requested that OnPoint NYC expand our operations to 24-hour coverage to provide safe, medically supported spaces to keep community members warm. Our dedicated team stepped up and fulfilled that request, keeping our doors open for New Yorkers during the extreme cold.
Recently, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin, and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga, Ph.D., visited OnPoint NYC to see our efforts first-hand. Led by our Executive Director Sam Rivera, the tour introduced Mayor Mamdani, Dr. Martin, and Deputy Mayor Arteaga to key programs that keep community members safe, including our holistic services, medical hub, Drop-in Center, and Overdose Prevention Center.
Sam gave them an overview of OnPoint NYC’s model, an approach grounded in community that centers compassion, evidence, and meeting people where they are. We concluded with a discussion on the critical role OnPoint NYC plays in protecting New Yorkers during dangerous winter conditions and throughout the year.
See highlights from the tour and learn how our services provide vital support to communities year-round.
Led by Executive Director Sam Rivera, the Mayor, Health and Human Services Deputy Mayor, and Commissioner received an overview of OnPoint NYC’s model, an approach grounded in community that centers compassion, evidence, and meeting people where they are.
For over three decades, OnPoint NYC has worked to improve health, safety, and quality of life for people who use drugs and the communities around them through low-threshold integrated services that promote dignity, connection, and pathways to care.
“We ask our participants what’s missing.” Our ED, @samrivera1111 explains how we’ve grown to meet the needs of our community members – & our participants’ central role in helping us expand our programs to help them thrive. pic.twitter.com/0G0iNRwIiQ
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
“We ask our participants what’s missing.” Our Executive Director, Sam Rivera explained how we’ve grown to meet the needs of our community members – and our participants’ central role in helping us expand our programs to help them thrive.
The @NYCMayor, @NYCHealthCommr, & Dpty. May. for Health & Human Svcs, toured our Holistic Program, which offers free, low-barrier svcs that reduce stress & support health. From acupuncture to massage, participants manage pain & trauma in a welcoming space. https://t.co/QBqQo9I2C3 pic.twitter.com/EfCYShYVY9
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
The Mayor, Health and Human Services Deputy Mayor, and Commissioner toured our holistic program, which provides free, low-barrier services that promote dignity, reduce stress, and support long-term health and recovery. Services include acupuncture, massage, and other supportive therapies that help participants manage pain, anxiety, and trauma in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
“Services are free for all people … We believe that our people should be treated with love and dignity,” says our Executive Director, Sam Rivera.
Next, our new Respite Room program, launching soon, will provide a quiet, safe indoor space for participants to rest, stabilize, and recover, especially critical during extreme cold. Alongside access to clean showers and hygiene supplies, these services support health, comfort, and dignity.
The Barbershop and salon, a new program scheduled to launch in July, will further this continuum of care by offering haircuts and grooming that help restore confidence, a sense of normalcy, and readiness for opportunities like housing and employment.
“[Opponents say] ‘You’re doing these services w/ kids across the street!’ [The kids] absolutely love us. [We’re offering] free hair cuts to the them, the school [next door], & parents,” says @samrivera1111, about our Barbershop & Salon, & our ABC School neighbors. pic.twitter.com/TMtSRfctpd
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
“[Opponents say] ‘You’re doing these services with kids across the street!’ The kids absolutely love us. We’re excited to offer free hair cuts to them, the school [next door], and the parents,” says our Executive Director, Sam Rivera, about our forthcoming Barbershop and Salon services, as well as our ABC School neighbors.
The tour moved on to showcase our Medical Services, which deliver low-threshold health care, including primary care, wound care, testing, and referrals to our community members. By meeting people where they are, we reduce barriers to treatment and help prevent more serious health crises.
Our ED, @samrivera1111, explained how something as simple as a mailing address can be a barrier to stability. OnPoint NYC offers participants a secure place to receive mail, helping them access benefits & services while staying connected & building trust with staff. pic.twitter.com/j5bWg7R64e
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
“We have a lot of participants [using the mailroom], which really helps for a number of reasons. One, they can get mail and see what’s going on…But also when they leave for a while and they come back…[mail] keeps them in touch.”
Our Executive Director, Sam Rivera, explained how something as simple as a mailing address can be a barrier to stability. OnPoint NYC offers participants a secure place to receive mail, helping them access benefits and services while staying connected and building trust with staff.
We toured our Drop-In Center — the hub of OnPoint NYC’s daily services. The Mayor and his team interacted with staff and participants while learning we provide meals, case management, housing support, and connections to care. During Code Blue, this safe indoor space becomes even more vital, offering warmth, stability, and access to essential services for New Yorkers facing dangerous winter conditions.
Touring our East Harlem Overdose Prevention Center, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his team saw firsthand how our trained staff can intervene immediately in the event of an overdose or health crisis. As part of the city’s Code Blue efforts, these services provide a critical indoor space where lives are saved, health emergencies are addressed, and participants are connected to care during periods of dangerous cold.
“We believe people should have an opportunity to exit their use unscathed,” says Pia Marcus, our Dir. of Overdose Prevention, explaining to @NYCMayor & his team that our approach reduces harm & provides people who use drugs w/ ed. on how to reduce long-term impacts from use. pic.twitter.com/pqzLZ1aZlH
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
“We believe people should have an opportunity to exit their use unscathed.”
Our Director of Overdose Prevention Pia Marcus explains to the Mayor and his team that our approach also provides people who use drugs or engage in sex with education on reducing long-term impacts from use.
We closed the tour in our courtyard garden, a peaceful outdoor space for reflection, community building, and programming during warmer months. The garden serves as a sanctuary where participants can rest, recharge, connect with nature, and gather for groups, ceremonies, and shared meals, offering moments of calm, healing, and belonging.
As the tour concluded, @NYCHealthCommr presented ED @samrivera1111 w/ a White House Fellows medallion, calling it “meant for a hero.” After learning about Sam’s journey, he said the honor recognized both his leadership and the lifesaving impact of our work. pic.twitter.com/vS3JttoTIZ
— OnPoint NYC (@_OnPointNYC) March 3, 2026
As we wrapped up the tour, NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin presented Executive Director Sam Rivera with a White House Fellows medallion, telling him it was “meant for a hero.”
For over three decades, OnPoint NYC has worked to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for people who use drugs and the communities around them through low-threshold integrated services that promote dignity, connection, and pathways to care.
We thank Mayor Mamdani, Dr. Martin, and Deputy Mayor Arteaga for visiting OnPoint NYC and for their partnership in protecting New Yorkers. During this winter’s extreme cold, our collaboration enabled us to operate 24/7, providing warmth, safety, and essential services to hundreds with nowhere else to go. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Mayor’s Office to strengthen our communities and keep New Yorkers safe.
During NYC’s Code Blue response to extreme cold, OnPoint NYC expanded to 24/7 operations to provide warmth, safety, and care. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin, and Deputy
We spoke with Thomas Ortiz, who works at our Drop-In Center in East Harlem, to learn more about his role, what his work looks like, and what motivates him each day.
OnPoint NYC’s Outreach and Public Safety Team connects people to care through mobile services, overdose response, hazardous waste cleanup, and community outreach across NYC neighborhoods.
People like you help us provide judgment-free care, dignity, and a community of love to our participants.
Our supporters enabled us to save over 1,948 lives. This Giving Tuesday, help ensure people receive the services they need.
