People USA outlines 24/7 crisis support center to Ulster County legislators

Steve Michio, CEO of People USA, and Kimberly Wing, the organization's COO, briefed the Ulster County Legislature on March 18 about a proposed 24/7 Ulster County Crisis Support/Stabilization Center. Michio described People USA as a peer‑run organization whose staff bring lived experience of mental health and substance‑use recovery to services that include mobile crisis teams, law‑assisted diversion, care coordination, respite housing and the stabilization model that provides an alternative to inpatient or emergency department care.

Wing summarized client and outcome data drawn from the Dutchess County facility and People USA programs: diversion of more than 2,500 hospital days per year and avoidance of approximately $1.6 million in criminal‑justice costs (Dutchess data cited by speaker); about 3,000 guests served in 2024, roughly 2,000 presenting with mental‑health concerns and about 700 with substance‑use disorders, with a high share of youth during the school year (speaker cited up to 60% under age 18 during term). Wing said services are voluntary and free, emphasize warm handoffs and follow‑up, and rely on collaboration with local partners. She invited the legislature to schedule a site tour when the Ulster County facility opens.

Chair Criswell thanked the presenters and said staff would coordinate a tour. No formal vote or funding commitment was made at the March 18 session.

The presenters described the stabilization center as intended to divert people from inpatient and criminal‑justice responses, provide immediate engagement and follow‑up, and plug into county behavioral‑health networks. Legislators acknowledged the model and asked to be briefed as implementation progresses.