As New York Boosts Residential Treatment, Regulators Turn a Blind Eye to Conditions
In the state’s byzantine system for addiction services, some people don’t know they have tenants’ rights. Some don’t have them at all.
![Purple background shows belongings out on the curb.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/2OP9sZnS4BgDojp60dITGIusnlbmAInUVJonIpkP2rk/w:820/h:546/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/f:jpg/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy90ZW5hbnRzLXJpZ2h0cy5qcGc.jpg)
![An open black trash bag shows an array of pharmaceutical products.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/bM8Lsc59U98CaWbF2uKyLxZvVxR7Q3_2uEJd_hEg9EI/w:820/h:1093/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9jcnV6LW1lZGljYXRpb25zLmpwZw.jpg)
![A pile of trash bags in an apartment with a teddy bear on top.](https://imgproxy.gridwork.co/oRuEh1Zwauh5ilj9dEH7zyJM5S28UIDs1SBH4UZne50/w:820/h:615/rt:fill/g:fp:0.5:0.5/q:90/el:1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy51cy1lYXN0LTIuYW1hem9uYXdzLmNvbS9ueXNmb2N1cy9jcnV6LWFwYXJ0bWVudC5qcGc.jpg)
“OASAS has them living outside of the law. Our clients were getting evicted.”
“Individuals who are temporarily residing in an OASAS-certified supportive living service are substance use disorder treatment clients, not tenants.”
Update: July 19, 2023 — This story has been updated with a statement from the Office of Mental Health provided after publication.
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