(Bronx, NY) - Today, State Senator Gustavo Rivera joined Christina Hanson Executive Director of Part of the Solution (POTS) to present her with a $60,000 check to support their management and substance abuse counseling services through their Dignity and Wellness program. 

In 1982, POTS opened its doors in The Bronx with the mission to fight some of the most challenging obstacles of the times - homelessness and the AIDS pandemic. Since then, POTS has continued to pave its trailblazing path by offering a wide array of services to help Bronxites in need become self-sufficient. Just in 2024, they provided over 3,000,000 meals through their pantry and lunch service and served over 15,000 households.

The funding secured by Senator Rivera will help boost one of POTS’ three programmatic pillars, its Dignity and Wellness program. The program’s services include a mailroom, a hot shower, haircuts, access to medical and dental services, as well as substance abuse counseling services. Senator Rivera understands that in an effort to fight the substance use crisis in The Bronx, it is critical to rely on trusted community partners that have a direct impact on our community. 

“My team has built our partnership with POTS since my early years as a State Senator and countless constituents have benefitted from it. POTS’ comprehensive services, from meeting immediate needs to supporting long term stability, are critical given our borough’s intersecting challenges. It is my hope that the funding I secured will expand these services to reach more people in our neighborhood. I want to thank Executive Director Christina Hanson and her entire team for their advocacy and dedication to serving the Bronx,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera.

“We are deeply grateful to Senator Rivera for securing these critical funds for POTS. Our unhoused clients are in desperate need of support that extends beyond our essential wellness program. More than a shower and a haircut, these funds will allow us to help the most vulnerable of our clients have a chance at building more stable and hopeful lives. This partnership strengthens our ability to be here for our community, today and for the future,” said POTS’ Executive Director Christina Hanson.