NewYork State Speaker Joins WNY Colleagues To Announce $4 Million Award To Spectrum Health & Human Services
Funding will be used for the construction and renovation of the Main Street flagship facility devastated in Christmas Eve blizzard in 2022
BUFFALO, NY – New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and members of the Western New York Assembly Majority Delegation, including Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes, Assemblymember Karen McMahon, Assemblymember Patrick Burke, Assemblymember William Conrad, and Assemblymember Jonathan Rivera, announced today that Spectrum Health & Human Services has been awarded $4 million from the New York State Assembly.
The $4 million award from the Assembly Majority is designated for repairs and renovations to Spectrum Health & Human Services’ flagship facility, located at 1280 Main Street in Buffalo. The facility, which serves as the primary services center, was severely damaged during the 2022 Christmas Eve blizzard. The funding from the Assembly Majority is in addition to a $9 million grant recently announced by Governor Hochul to the human services agency through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program.
“Our communities need access to quality health and mental health care,” Speaker Heastie said. “And I’m glad to stand here with our great Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes and members of our Assembly Buffalo delegation to announce this funding for Spectrum Health & Human Services. By rebuilding and renovating this facility, they will be better able to serve Buffalo families and get them the mental health services they need and deserve.”
“The rehabilitation and expansion of our flagship facility will allow us to continue our mission of providing personalized and impactful services tailored to meet the mental health support that is needed throughout the community,” said Spectrum Health & Human Services President and CEO, Cindy Voelker. “Today’s announcement showcases the efforts our state leaders and in particular Speaker Heastie and the members from the Western New York Assembly delegation are making in communities to advance mental health intervention and ensure that individuals receive the compassionate and effective care they need.”
“We cannot ignore the scourge of mental health illness; the answer to that is enhancing intervention and specialized care provided by organizations such as Spectrum Health & Human Services, and the investment in their flagship facility will deliver results to thousands of Buffalo residents,” said New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples Stokes.
She continued, “My state colleagues and I are proactively investing in programs that will create wealth, stability, and independence for those who are suffering from the detrimental effects of mental health issues. Our communities deserve convenient access to this type of care, and we will continue to find solutions in Western New York and across the state.”
The facility at 1280 Main St. has served as the hub for essential services for the city of Buffalo community. These services include crisis, medication, addiction, and mental health services, providing care to individuals re-entering the community from prison or jail, individuals mandated to services by the legal system, and individuals in need of physical health and behavioral health care and coordination.
Spectrum Health will offer state-of-the-art conference room space available for booking to community-based organizations and entities from the WNY community to offer a centralized meeting space to support collaboration and coordination to meet the needs of Buffalo’s communities.
Below is the projected construction timeline of the flagship facility at 1280 Main Street:
Phase 1: Elevator Completion (January 2023-Current)
Phase 2: Work on building envelope and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing completion (Fall 2023-Current)
Phase 3: Complete floor three, complete floor four shell, lower level shell, and building exterior (Current- June 2026)
Phase 4: Complete floor four and lower level (June 2026-November 2026)
Anticipated Completion Date: Fall 2026