On Thursday, October 10th, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon, and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park announced a new public safety and social services initiative to support New Yorkers in the subway system. The initiative, Partnership Assistance for Transit Homelessness (PATH), focuses on connecting people experiencing homelessness in the subway system with shelter and care. Launched in August, PATH teams consist of DHS nurses, outreach staff, and NYPD transit officers who work together to engage with those in need.
PATH teams operate overnight from 8:00 PM to 12:00 PM across Manhattan subway stations, providing individualized support to the unsheltered. The program is part of the city’s broader “co-response” model, which pairs police officers with clinical professionals to ensure safety and compassionate care during crises.
Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of this approach, stating, “Keeping New Yorkers safe on our subways and maintaining confidence in the transit system that each day moves over 4 million people is key to ensuring that New York remains the safest big city in America…This is not only the compassionate thing to do, but the right thing to do.”
Since its launch, PATH teams have connected more than 500 individuals to services, including shelter, meals, and medical care, while engaging with over 1,500 unhoused New Yorkers. The initiative complements the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams (SCOUT), which operates during the day and has expanded in 2024. Together, these programs build on the success of the Subway Safety Plan, which has connected over 7,800 New Yorkers to shelters since February 2022.
Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom highlighted the initiative’s focus on building trust with unsheltered individuals, saying, “Our PATH teams are another tool to do this work with response teams including NYPD, social service professionals, and nurses from our public hospital system.
The program’s approach includes crisis de-escalation training for officers, allowing clinical staff to provide care safely. This collaboration enables better support for individuals with severe mental health issues and facilitates hospital transport when necessary.
NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD, praised the effort: “Our doors are open any time you need support. We are grateful to our colleagues at the Department of Homeless Services and at the NYPD for their efforts to connect people to our care.”
With subway crime down 5.1% year-to-date, including an 8.7% decrease in September, the PATH initiative is already showing positive results. As it expands, the city aims to enhance safety and outreach, reinforcing New York City’s commitment to supporting those in need while maintaining a secure subway system. For daily commuters, PATH promises a safer, more supportive transit environment, ensuring that New York City’s subways remain a reliable mode of transportation for all.
