Project Heal's contract expiration leads to major service disruption for clients

During the recent Public Safety Committee meeting held on April 7, 2025, in Syracuse, NY, significant concerns were raised regarding the interruption of services provided by Project Heal and the subsequent transition to a new contractor, OnPoint. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by the city in maintaining support for clients during this transition period.

The contract with Project Heal expired on September 10, 2024, but the city did not receive notice of their decision not to extend the contract until six days later. This delay resulted in a gap in services, leaving clients without necessary support for several months. The city was then tasked with finding a new contractor, which was identified as OnPoint. However, the process of finalizing the contract took longer than anticipated, delaying the implementation of services until November 1, 2024.

As a result of this timeline, there was a significant reduction in the number of service providers available to assist clients. The number of therapists available dropped from 19 to just 9, severely impacting the ability to support the population of 50 clients. This reduction in personnel meant that the city could not adequately meet the needs of those relying on these services, leading to concerns about the overall effectiveness of the support system in place.

The committee's discussions underscored the importance of timely communication and efficient contract management in public safety services. The gap in service provision not only affected the clients but also raised questions about the city's capacity to respond to community needs effectively. Moving forward, the committee will need to address these issues to ensure that such disruptions do not occur in the future, emphasizing the need for better planning and coordination in service delivery.