03/30/2026
Last week, Affinity Place received a visit from the OMH WNY field office team as well as Sarah Kuriakose, Director of the OMH Division of Crisis Services. The visit was part of the new OMH Division of Crisis Services, reporting directly to the Commissioner. This Division brings together all previous OMH Crisis bureaus and initiatives as well as the Behavioral Health Crisis Technical Assistance Center, established in 2025 in Mental Hygiene Law, jointly operated with OASAS.
The group is shown here outside East House's Affinity Place, a no-fee, short-term, bed and breakfast style housing option staffed by people with lived experience. Affinity Place is a hospital diversion program that provides a recovery-oriented alternative to costly acute crisis services. Learn more about Affinity Place on our website! https://www.easthouse.org/affinity-place