Community Access

Lasonta Bynoe

3 months ago

★★★★★

It's very unfortunate that I went to a facility for sanctuary and stabilization, and instead, I was subjected to safety failures, bullying, targeted harassment, a retaliatory freeze-out, and a coordinated paper trail of lies designed to make me look like the problem once I spoke up. I am the harmed individual referenced in Ansi Green's review. I delayed posting to allow upper management to handle my grievance. They ultimately issued a formal letter validating my complaint, admitting my stay severely deviated from their standard of care, lacked executive oversight, and failed to provide a trauma-informed approach. However, reviewing my internal files revealed a fabricated paper trail by staff to cover up their negligence and paint me as the problem. If you come here for sanctuary, expect persistent feelings of instability. What is most jarring is that my initial experience was highly positive; I appreciated the cleanliness, amenities, private room, and seemingly warm staff. However, a sudden, drastic shift occurred once the systemic cracks revealed themselves. It became clear that this facility can only maintain its supportive facade for a brief, one-to-two-week stay. For independent guests requiring a longer-term stabilization period, the environment quickly degrades into a source of secondary trauma. I absolutely do not recommend a long-term stay. Protect yourself by knowing these operational realities: 1. Weaponized Vulnerability: Do not wear your heart on your sleeve and keep to yourself (as God's Child reviewed). Confidences are distorted in internal notes to shield the agency from liability. 2. Punitive Environment: The space lacks a therapeutic feel. Staff heavily surveil the kitchen and arbitrarily scold guests for minor upkeep or crumbs that aren't even theirs. 3. Blocking Emergency Services: During an active threat by a hostile resident, leadership explicitly instructed staff to block the NYPD from entering to protect me. 4. Medical & Allergy Negligence: Staff fail to enforce dietary and medical allergy protocols, risking cross-exposure. 5. Double Standards: Substance use and bullying are tolerated from aggressive guests, while compliant residents are strictly policed. 6. Failed De-escalation & Weaponized HIPAA: Staff fail to adequately de-escalate conflicts. Instead, they inappropriately weaponize HIPAA regulations as an excuse to escape handling your inquiries, leaving you entirely unprotected while you are actively being harassed, targeted, and bullied by unsavory individuals. 7. Suppression of Rights: When I raised concerns, staff took down DOHMH-mandated Patient Bill of Rights/Grievance posters to obstruct my right to complain, followed by a retaliatory communication "freeze-out." 8. Boundary Failures: Vulnerable women should watch out for boundary testing and inappropriate over-involvement from site leadership. 9. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING: Keep your own meticulous log. It is your only defense against their omissions. Leave the facility before you file your grievance so you are not targeted. Interim Director Brandon Smith, Director of Community Engagement Services Justin Barron, along with Peer Team Leader member Oumou Seck, and Respite Workers Hannah Zimet, Frank Minton, Eunyk McCall, Edward Salas, Marianne Butler, and Steven Boccia should be ashamed. I am saddened to add Steven to this list because I felt he was one of the few trauma-informed staffers. They failed to intervene and document crisis events honestly. My mental health, ongoing affairs, and vulnerability was used against me in internal logs. A formal regulatory investigation is now underway with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for contract non-compliance. Let's see whose documentation holds up. I will speak further about this when the time is right as a means to drive systemic accountability, bring meaningful change to these facilities, and ensure this experience never happens to another vulnerable individual again. I still remain impacted by what occurred during my 28 day stay at Community Access.

Ansi Green

6 months ago

★★★★★

Very clean place, nice rooms and good food. Although they do not handle situations properly. If you're being bullied, threatened or harassed by another guest there, staff will not do anything to stop it and will not take anything seriously. Some staff are well trained and tried to handle situations. But most need extra training or something..

GODS CHILD

last year

★★★★★

Nice place very helpful....great staff....BUT ROSE NEEDS TO LEARN TO STOP VIOLATING HIPPA.... wereing your feelings on your slave is a NO NO be wise.... enjoy the bed...enjoy the rest enjoy cooking and the nice neighborhood....KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL.

Joshua Muniz

2 years ago

★★★★★

My name is Joshua Muniz and I stay here and this place is truly amazing staff is super sweet helpful and very professional I mean every single one was amazing and treated me with the most respect they accepted me and made me feel special helped me in every way possible i truly give it up to this place they had a lot of food drinks everything you can imagine like I said man. This is the best place to go to the best respite in the world the room was very comfortable very big bathroom was clean and they had a room to paint draw they had a lovely movie room they even had a room to relax in it was so peaceful and relaxing I give this place a 20 star rating and I will definitely recommend this place to anyone that in crisis 💪🫶🏼❤️👌

Siací Ross

3 years ago

★★★★★

Readers should be aware that this RESPITE center is NOT a treatment center. It is staffed by peers and is non-profit. It is not a hotel. It is not a shelter. It is not a hospital. It is a place for mental health patients to take a break from their usual environment and rest. I went here for a week when my sister passed away. I got what I needed, privacy to grieve. The web site is pretty clear what the center is for. Check your expectations.