In 2022, Wards Island averaged nearly six overdoses a month. Today, that number is under one.
Behind that drop is a group of residents who live in the shelter system themselves. They trained as Certified Peer Recovery Advocates and now help the people they live alongside access support, stay safe, and navigate recovery.
“When I moved into the shelter, I felt like life was over. Then I got introduced to the program, and it had a big, positive impact on my life. The training was excellent. I learned new techniques, new ways to approach people, and new ways to talk to people,” shared Francesco, a CRPA Intern living at HELP Keener Men’s Shelter resident.
That shared experience helps build trust. Residents who may be hesitant to engage with traditional services are often more willing to open up to someone who has faced similar challenges. Peer advocates meet people where they are, offering practical support, encouragement, and connections to resources without judgment.
The results have been significant. Since late 2025, when trained peer advocates began providing harm reduction services alongside HELP USA staff, average monthly overdoses across Wards Island shelters have fallen to 0.75.
Peer advocates have also completed 105 intakes of residents considered at high risk of overdose, helping connect them to services and ongoing support.
This progress reflects a broader effort to expand harm reduction services across Wards Island. The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) helped bring additional harm reduction resources and training into the shelters, while Exponents, a New York City nonprofit specializing in substance use prevention and recovery services, has provided training, mobile outreach, and support for residents pursuing peer recovery certifications.
HELP USA recently celebrated participants in its substance use counseling and peer recovery training programs, recognizing the residents, staff, and partners helping strengthen peer-led recovery services across Wards Island.
This work is made possible through partnerships with DHS, Exponents, and the FORE Foundation, whose support has helped expand access to lifesaving services while creating new pathways to employment and professional growth for residents.
Together, these peer advocates are helping save lives while proving that lived experience can be one of the most powerful tools for supporting recovery.
