Lower Eastside Service Center

What Lower Eastside Service Center does

Lower Eastside Service Center (now branded Lower Eastside Recovery Center, LESC) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) behavioral health non-profit founded in 1959 by Manhattan minister Ed Brown to address the heroin epidemic on the Lower East Side. The organization delivers integrated substance use disorder treatment and wraparound services through outpatient clinics (Medication-Assisted Treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone at locations including 80 Maiden Lane and the Su Casa campus at 7 Gouverneur Slip E), residential programs (Su Casa Residential Redesign Program / 820 Program launched January 2025, plus Short-Stay Medication Residence 6–9 months and Long-Stay Medication-to-Abstinence Residence 12–18 months), and 40 units of supportive housing at Pencer House in Manhattan with additional transitional and Scattersite housing in Manhattan and the Bronx. Specialty lines include Dual Recovery Services for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, a Problem Gambling Program, Continuing Day Treatment with a Cantonese-language track, a Pregnant Women and Infants Program (10 beds), HIV/Hepatitis C Early Intervention, Cogency IPA psychiatric services, and an Education & Employment vocational program.

The revenue model is a hybrid of Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance billing (approximately 80% of clinical clients are Medicaid-enrolled), Section 8 / HUD / NYC HPD housing subsidies covering Pencer House's 40 units, government grants from OASAS and the NYC Department of Health, and donations and fundraising (including an Annual Fundraiser Breakfast). Go-to-market is referral-driven: LESC accepts self-referrals, hospital and clinician referrals, court and ACS referrals, and family referrals, supplemented by community outreach and a multilingual staff spanning English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, and Hindi. Recent strategic activity includes the consolidation of full ownership of Pencer House (March 2023), a $19.1 million renovation of that facility, a $9 million renovation of the 6th Street property, the January 2025 launch of the Residential Redesign Program extending services beyond opioid use disorder, and a rebranding from Lower Eastside Service Center to Lower Eastside Recovery Center; the organization is also currently managing the temporary relocation of two outpatient clinics following March 2026 snowstorm damage.

Name

Lower Eastside Service Center

Legal name

Lower Eastside Recovery Center

Website

https://lesc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lower Eastside Recovery Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1959 that delivers outpatient, residential, and supportive housing services for New Yorkers with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, gambling addiction, and housing insecurity, funded primarily through Medicaid, government grants, and Section 8 housing subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health and Substance Use Treatment Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) & Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) (HLAFACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Programs (HLAFABAD), Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs (IOP/PHP/OP) (HLAFACAF), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Substance use treatment
• Behavioral health services
• Supportive housing programs
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Residential recovery services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Healthcare Insurance Billing: LESC accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most major private insurance plans. Approximately 80% of clients rely on Medicaid, with additional revenue from Medicare and private insurers including Affinity, Amida Care, Fidelis, Health First, Health Plus, HIP, MetroPlus, UHC, VNSNY Choice, and WellCare.
2. Section 8 Housing Subsidies: Pencer House operates under a 20-year agreement with HPD and HUD providing Section 8 rent payments for all 40 units. This provides consistent housing-related revenue stream.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through its website and holds an Annual Fundraiser Breakfast. Credit card transactions are processed through secure server with encryption.
4. Government Grants and Funding: Funding received from NYC Housing Preservation and Development ($13,043,342), Community Preservation Corporation ($5,293,100), and Department of Health for program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

LESC delivers integrated addiction recovery, mental health, and supportive housing services to New Yorkers through outpatient clinics, residential treatment programs (Su Casa, Short-Stay and Long-Stay Medication Residence), and wraparound services. Programs combine FDA-approved Medication-Assisted Treatment (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) with counseling, vocational training, primary care, HIV/Hep C early intervention, and supportive housing. The Residential Redesign Program uniquely embeds an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) within the residential setting.

Product overview

Lower Eastside Service Center (LESC) is a healthcare and human services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of addiction recovery, mental health, and supportive housing programs in New York City. Rather than a single unified software product, LESC operates an integrated service delivery model consisting of residential treatment programs (Su Casa Residential Redesign Treatment Program, Short-Stay Medication Residence, Long-Stay Medication-to-Abstinence Residence), outpatient services (Outpatient Opioid Recovery, Dual Recovery Services, Problem Gambling Support, Continuing Day Treatment), and wraparound support services (Supportive Housing, Education & Employment, Pregnant Women and Infants Program, HIV Early Intervention & Hep C, Cogency IPA, Residential Primary Care). The organization uses an integrated care model combining medication-assisted treatment, counseling, vocational support, and housing assistance to provide whole-person care for individuals with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, and housing insecurity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Su Casa: LESC's residential treatment program for substance use disorders, including the Residential Redesign Treatment Center (also called the 820 Program). Su Casa provides a home-like environment for individuals seeking recovery.
• Pencer House
• Cogency IPA

Products and services

• Outpatient Opioid Recovery Outpatient treatment program providing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) including Methadone and Buprenorphine, individual counseling, and harm reduction strategies for opioid addiction recovery. Targeted at individuals seeking outpatient opioid use disorder treatment in Manhattan.
• Dual Recovery Services Integrated care program addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders concurrently, treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction together. Targeted at individuals with dual diagnosis needing coordinated behavioral health and addiction care.
• Problem Gambling Support Specialized treatment program for individuals and families affected by problem gambling, providing evidence-based therapy, financial counseling, and support for managing gambling addiction. Targeted at individuals and families affected by sports gambling, casino gambling, and gambling-related financial distress.
• Continuing Day Treatment Day treatment program, including a Cantonese-language track, providing structured therapeutic services for individuals with chronic mental health concerns and substance use disorders. Targeted at clients needing intensive structured daytime treatment while maintaining community living.
• Su Casa Residential Redesign Treatment Program Long-term residential treatment program providing a safe, structured environment for individuals to focus on healing, incorporating an embedded Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) for seamless MAT access. Supports individuals with any substance use disorder, not just opioids.
• Residential Primary Care Primary medical care services provided within the residential treatment setting, addressing general health needs alongside addiction recovery. Targeted at Su Casa residential clients needing integrated primary healthcare.
• Pregnant Women and Infants Program Ten-bed residential program providing prenatal and postnatal care, 24-hour childcare, mental health services, clinical support, and legal and vocational support for mothers and their babies from pregnancy through the child's first year.
• HIV Early Intervention & Hep C Early intervention services for HIV and Hepatitis C, including counseling, testing, and coordinated care for individuals in recovery. Targeted at individuals with or at risk of HIV/Hep C who are also addressing substance use.
• Education & Employment Vocational training, job placement assistance, educational support including GED preparation, resume writing, and mock interviews to help clients gain employment and financial independence. Targeted at clients in recovery seeking vocational reintegration.
• Supportive Housing Supportive and transitional housing in Manhattan and the Bronx for individuals and families overcoming substance use disorders and chronic health conditions, including Transitional Safety Units and Scattersite housing. Targeted at housing-insecure individuals in recovery.
• Short-Stay Medication Residence 6 to 9 month residential Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program for opioid addiction providing MOUD (methadone, Suboxone, Vivitrol), individual treatment planning, vocational counseling, and on-site medical care. CARF accredited and OASAS licensed.
• Long-Stay Medication-to-Abstinence Residence 12 to 18 month residential program focused on tapering off Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) regimen while receiving comprehensive healthcare, psychological and psychiatric care, educational training, and vocational services.
• Cogency IPA Intensive psychiatric intervention services providing acute assessment and stabilization for individuals experiencing mental health crises, delivered through an independent practice association affiliated with LESC.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of residential clients reduced daily drug use at discharge over the past 10 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Supports)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOASAS provides crucial support for program development and approval, ongoing training and guidance. They facilitated the Residential Redesign Program's development and approval process. OASAS also provides gambling screening and assessment tools for LESC's Problem Gambling program.
• NYC Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing essential funding and resources to support LESC's addiction treatment programs and operations.
• Community Board 3majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding valuable community support and advocacy for LESC's programs and initiatives, including the Residential Redesign Program.
• Henry Street SettlementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing specialized parenting programs such as 'Mommy and Me' for the Pregnant Women and Infants Program.
• Problem Gambling Resource CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership expanding outreach efforts to provide accessible problem gambling treatment options within the community.
• Partner Organizations (Peer Treatment Programs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizations that have previously implemented residential redesign programs share experiences and lessons learned to support LESC's program launch.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Odyssey House: NYC-based non-profit providing integrated residential and outpatient substance use treatment, mental health, and supportive housing — directly comparable service mix, scale, and target population to LESC.
• VIP Community Services: Bronx-based non-profit operating outpatient behavioral health, MAT/OTP, and supportive housing — directly comparable integrated model and overlapping Bronx service area.
• Phoenix Houses of New York: Long-standing NYC/National non-profit offering residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment with co-occurring mental health services — directly comparable integrated SUD model.
• Samaritan Village: NYC non-profit operating long-term residential SUD treatment, supportive housing, and outpatient services — comparable residential-focused SUD model and target population.
• Samaritan Daytop Village: Large NYC non-profit operating residential SUD treatment, outpatient MAT, and supportive housing across NYC — directly comparable integrated SUD and housing service model.
• Argus Community: NYC-based non-profit providing residential substance use treatment, outpatient MAT, and supportive housing for vulnerable populations — closely comparable program mix to LESC.
• ACMH Inc. NYC-based non-profit providing behavioral health, mental health, and substance use treatment across Manhattan and the Bronx — comparable outpatient behavioral health and case management model.

Regional players

• Henry Street Settlement: NYC Lower East Side social services non-profit partnering with LESC on the Pregnant Women & Infants Program ('Mommy and Me' parenting services). Adjacent in geography and target population but broader social services rather than direct SUD treatment.

Broad incumbents

• Brightpoint Health (formerly HELP/PSI): NYC Federally Qualified Health Center network offering integrated primary care, behavioral health, and MAT — comparable integrated SUD/primary care model at larger FQHC scale.
• Greenwich House: NYC non-profit offering behavioral health, senior services, and community programs; named as LESC guest-dosing partner. Broader community-services scope but overlapping behavioral health and MAT capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100088255812922
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lesc-recovery/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/lesc_recovery

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lower Eastside Service Center