Now Residents Of Former Hoboken YMCA Can Get Free Mental Health Care

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken Community Center in the former YMCA building has evolved to provide a host of services for the 96 men living in the affordable housing there, as well as for needy residents around Hoboken.

They distribute food, diapers, and other supplies to both groups. After staff noticed that a new resident was sleeping in bed under his coat, they realized it would help to provide bedding supplies, too.

And this week, the center added one more much needed service that's out of reach for some.

The Community Center announced Tuesday that they were partnering with Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC), an affiliate of RWJBarnabas Health, to provide mental health services to the men who live there, free of charge.

The services will be provided both at the HCC and at Jersey City Medical Center, a spokesperson said.

Whether the men have insurance or not, they'll be eligible for the services, and any co-pays will be waived, said Robert Winston, RWJBarnabas vice president for operations.

“The JCMC behavioral health program is a welcome addition to the services available to residents of the Hoboken Community Center's Affordable Housing program,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “Through this new partnership, the Hoboken Community Center will be equipped to
help care for their residents’ physical, emotional, and mental health."

Michael Prilutsky, president and chief executive officer of Jersey City Medical Center, said, “Helping to meet the behavioral health needs of the residents of Hoboken Community Center is one of many ways that Jersey City Medical Center is helping our community to achieve good health."

JCMC staff will begin working with residents this week to address their individual needs.

A team of mental health workers and a senior primary therapist will assist patients with direct case management, care coordination, wellness education, treatment planning, psycho-education, life skills training, individual and group therapy, clinical assessments, and group screening.

Jersey City Medical Center is a acute and sub-acute care 348-bed teaching hospital in Jersey City. A not-for-profit hospital, JCMC is also a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center with close to 16,000 admissions and over 80,000 Emergency Department visits annually.

The Hoboken Community Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides
services and spaces to support the well-being of the Hoboken community. Find out more here.

Get more local news about Hoboken delivered straight to your inbox each day. Sign up here for free Hoboken Patch daily 6 a.m. newsletters and for breaking news alerts.