Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled, PEOPLe, Inc.

What Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled, PEOPLe, Inc. does

People USA (formerly PEOPLe, Inc., founded 1990) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of the only entirely peer-run behavioral health organizations in the United States, operating from Poughkeepsie, NY. Every member of its workforce has personally navigated mental health, addiction, or trauma, and the organization delivers a continuum of crisis response and recovery services including 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Centers, Rose Houses (peer-operated short-term crisis respites), Mobile Crisis Response Teams, Forensic Diversion Teams, the LEAD Team, Care Coordination, CORE Services, Community-based Peers, Supportive Housing, Employment and Benefits Counseling, and a Warmline. Service delivery is grounded in a proprietary "Four Pillars" framework (Engagement, Environment, Mutuality, Philosophy) and emphasizes trauma-informed, recovery-oriented alternatives to hospital emergency rooms and incarceration, with documented system savings of over $28.93 million annually across its programs and serve volumes of up to 5,480 individuals per Crisis Stabilization Center and 500 per Rose House per year.

The organization's product architecture is service-model rather than technology-centric: an integrated team of peer specialists, licensed clinicians, and behavioral health professionals deliver care at owned-and-operated facilities across at least seven New York State counties (Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Warren/Washington, Westchester), with additional Mobile Crisis Outreach and Forensic programs. Beyond direct delivery, People USA runs an implementation and consulting practice that has supported the replication of its Rose House model across 39 locations in 14 U.S. states plus the Netherlands, and has infused peer services into clinical operations at partners including Kings County Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, MidHudson Regional Hospital, Westchester Medical Center Health Network, NYC Department of Health, the Mental Health Association of Nebraska, and the North Carolina Division of Mental Health.

Revenue comes primarily from New York State government contracts (OMH, OASAS, county behavioral health departments covering Dutchess, Ulster, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Warren/Washington), Medicaid HARP and HIV-SNP reimbursement for Care Coordination and CORE Services, ARPA and state grant funding, fee-for-service consulting, and donations/sponsorships channeled through an annual Gala and Wellness Wednesday events. Pricing is free at point of service for all qualifying individuals, with monetization occurring upstream at the government, payer, and grant level. Marquee customers include Dutchess County Government, Ulster County Department of Mental Health, Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, NY State OMH, OASAS, and WMCHealth; the organization won its leadership awards from NYAPRS, NY State Assembly, Congress, AFSP, and Mental Health News Education.

Name

Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled, PEOPLe, Inc.

Legal name

PEOPLe, Inc. (Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled)

Website

https://projectstoempower.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

People USA is a 100% peer-run 501(c)(3) behavioral health nonprofit in Poughkeepsie, NY, operating Crisis Stabilization Centers, Rose House respites, mobile crisis and forensic diversion teams, Care Coordination, CORE Services, and consulting across the Hudson Valley and replicated nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers (HLAFACAC)

Keywords

• Peer-run crisis services
• Behavioral health support
• Community crisis response
• Mental health nonprofit
• Peer support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Poughkeepsie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Funding: Medicaid-funded services for eligible beneficiaries. HARP (Health and Recovery Plan) and HIV-Special Needs Plan (SNP) enrollment provides access to CORE Services. Services provided free to qualifying individuals.
2. Government Contracts: Contracts with county governments (Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Putnam, Warren/Washington, Westchester) to operate crisis stabilization centers, mobile crisis teams, and other behavioral health services.
3. Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting to help other organizations design, develop, implement, and operate crisis response services. Revenue from training, systems transformation, and implementation support engagements.
4. Donations and Grants: Donations from individuals and organizations, including corporate sponsors for events like Wellness Wednesday and Annual Gala. Funding from foundations and government grants for specific initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

People USA is a 100% peer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates community-based behavioral health and crisis response services in New York's Hudson Valley. Its portfolio spans 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Centers, peer-operated Rose House crisis respites, Mobile Crisis Response Teams, forensic and LEAD diversion teams, Care Coordination, CORE Services, Community-based Peers, Employment and Benefits Counseling, Supportive Housing, Transition of Care, and a peer-staffed Warmline — all delivered by staff with lived experience. The organization supplements direct service with a fee-for-service consulting practice that helps other counties, hospital systems, and behavioral health organizations design and replicate its peer-run models.

Product overview

People USA (formerly PEOPLe, Inc.) is a peer-run mental health nonprofit organization that offers a comprehensive suite of behavioral health and crisis response services. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio of programs, including Crisis Stabilization Centers (24/7 community crisis hubs), Rose Houses (peer-operated crisis respites), Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT), Peer Forensic Diversion Teams, the LEAD Team (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion), Care Coordination, CORE Services, Community-based Peers, Employment and Benefits Counseling, Supportive Housing, Transition of Care services, and a Warmline (978.488.HOPE). These services are designed to work together as a continuum of care, providing community-based alternatives to hospital emergency rooms and incarceration, with a focus on peer-led support, trauma-informed care, and recovery-oriented practices. The organization primarily serves New York State, particularly the Hudson Valley region, and has been replicated across the United States and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crisis Stabilization Centers 24/7 community crisis response hubs where people of all ages can connect immediately with an integrated team of counselors, peer specialists, and behavioral health professionals for onsite care and support during emotional distress, psychiatric symptoms, substance use challenges, or other life stressors. Free to walk-ins, no appointment or referral necessary.
• Rose Houses (Peer-Operated Crisis Respites) 24/7 short-term crisis respites that are home-like alternatives to hospital psychiatric ERs and inpatient units. 100% operated by peers with personal lived experience. Guests can stay up to seven days, coming and going for appointments, jobs, and other essential needs.
• Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Mobile crisis response team that assists police with behavioral health calls independently or by corresponding with local law enforcement. A peer specialist and social worker respond immediately upon receiving a request for service from law enforcement or 911 Dispatch. Available 24/7, free to individuals in crisis.
• Peer Forensic Diversion Team Peer-run mobile response team that works directly with law enforcement in the field and with the court system seeking alternatives to incarceration, providing immediate crisis response and transitional care services to people whose low-level offenses are often due to unmet behavioral health needs.
• LEAD Team (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) Pre-arrest, racially equitable, evidence-based intensive street case management program designed to reach individuals with unmet behavioral health needs who have not connected with community resources or the traditional systems of care.
• Care Coordination Health benefit for individuals with Medicaid insurance that links participants to community services and care they may need to improve overall health. Includes connections to providers, assistance with benefits, housing assistance, vocational support, transportation support, peer support, and care-plan creation. Free for Medicaid-eligible participants.
• CORE Services (Community-Oriented Recovery and Empowerment) Provides opportunities for eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries with mental and/or substance use disorders to receive services in their own home or community. Includes Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) and Empowerment Services - Peer Support. Free for those who qualify (must be HARP-eligible and enrolled in HARP or HIV-Special Needs Plan).
• Community-Based Peers Peers with lived experience available in the community and integrated into existing services to support individuals on positive pathways to behavioral health and wellness. Includes peer advocacy, independent living skills, wellness coaching, health education, social engagement, and referrals. Accessible through self-referral.
• Employment and Benefits Counseling Employment and Benefits Counselors work with people to maximize available benefits and work incentives, plan goals, boost employability, find and secure jobs, and provide support. Includes workplace readiness, job search, resume building, interview skills, and benefits counseling.
• Supportive Housing Program that allows individuals to live anywhere in the community, receive help with their rent through subsidies, and receive customized services to ensure they are living well and meeting their goals. Includes housing process assistance, advocacy, employment support, life skills training, and wellness programs. Subsidized rent available for qualifying individuals.
• Transition of Care Community-based case management services at the Warren/Washington Rose House regardless of ability to pay. Specializes in facilitating communication between medical professionals, mental health professionals, patients, and families to bridge hospital and community-based care.
• Warmline (978.488.HOPE) Non-crisis emotional support hotline staffed by trained peer specialists — individuals with lived experience — who offer understanding, connection, and support to anyone feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or in need of someone to talk to.
• Crisis Stabilization Team (Westchester) Westchester team working directly with community social service agencies and the courts to help individuals seek alternatives to incarceration. Provides supportive and transitional care services to people at risk of entering the criminal justice system due to under-addressed mental health, substance use, or social-determinant-of-health issues.
• Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) - Putnam County Putnam County Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, available Monday-Friday 12pm-8pm, providing community-based crisis response and interventions for individuals of any age. Responds to any setting where a crisis is occurring, with face-to-face or telephonic services by a Peer Specialist and Licensed Behavioral Health Clinician.
• Mobile Outreach Team (MOT) - Rockland Works directly with Rockland Psychiatric Center to provide participants living in transitional housing environments with peer support, community outreach, and outings to reintegrate them back into society.
• Consulting Services Fee-for-service consulting engagement helping other organizations design, develop, implement, and operate crisis response services. Includes training, systems transformation, and implementation support. Positions the work as creating a new paradigm for behavioral health.
• Hospital-Integrated Peers Peer specialists embedded within traditional hospital emergency, inpatient, or outpatient operations to reduce lengths of stay and improve patient engagement, activation, and discharge effectiveness. Bridges the gap between hospital and community-based providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each Crisis Stabilization Center can serve up to 5,480 people annually and saves the system over $12.28 million per year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered presenting sponsor, core, flagship, community champion, circle of hope and community wellness.

• Marshall & Sterlingpresenting sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 October 2026Presenting sponsor of People USA's 1st Annual Gala 'The Story of People USA: Hope in Every Chapter' on October 29.
• Ulster County Center for Well-Being PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Multi-partner collaboration including Access: Supports for Living (Behavioral Health Urgent Care, Crime Victims Assistance Program), Children's Home of Poughkeepsie (Children's Way Counseling Center), and Ulster County Department of Mental Health. ARPA-funded project bringing full continuum of behavioral health services under one roof.
• Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026State government partner supporting addiction services and crisis response. Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham attended ribbon cutting celebrating expanded access to behavioral health services.
• Dutchess County Government (NY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Dutchess County Government to create and operate the Dutchess County Crisis Stabilization Center, the Northeast's first crisis stabilization center, in Poughkeepsie, NY. Partnership for care coordination, CORE services, and multiple behavioral health programs across the county.
• Ulster County Department of Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to operate the Ulster County Crisis Support Center within the Ulster County Center for Well-Being at 368 Broadway in Kingston. Center operates 24/7 providing immediate support for youth and adults experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
• Westchester County Department of Community Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create the Westchester Crisis Stabilization Team, the first peer-run criminal justice-focused mobile team in the United States. Also partnership for Westchester Crisis Stabilization Team providing services to individuals at risk of entering criminal justice system.
• New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner supporting crisis stabilization centers and intensive crisis services across New York. Commissioner Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan attended ribbon cutting for Ulster County Center for Well-Being.
• Kings County Hospital (NY)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHospital where People USA helped infuse peer services into clinical operations. Example of hospital-based peer integration work.
• HealthAlliance Hospital (NY)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHospital where People USA helped infuse peer services into clinical operations as part of regional behavioral health transformation.
• MidHudson Regional Hospital (NY)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHospital where People USA helped infuse peer services into clinical operations, reducing lengths of stay and improving patient engagement.
• Westchester Medical Center Health NetworkflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHealthcare network People USA helped create transitional care programs with, working with New York State to achieve major reductions in avoidable hospital use and Medicaid spending.
• Adirondack Health InstituteflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOrganization People USA helped create transitional care programs with, working with New York State to achieve major reductions in avoidable hospital use and Medicaid spending.
• New York City Department of Health and Mental HygienecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCity health department People USA helped infuse peer services into clinical operations and enhanced workforce and overall culture.
• Mental Health Association (MHA) of NebraskacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMental health association People USA helped infuse peer services into clinical operations and enhanced workforce and overall culture.
• North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState division People USA helped enhance workforce and overall culture through training and systems transformation.
• WMC Healthcommunity championGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Champion sponsor of 4th Annual Wellness Wednesday Workshops.
• CDPHPcircle of hopeGTM or Marketing PartnerCircle of Hope sponsor of 4th Annual Wellness Wednesday Workshops.
• Clearwave Mental Healthcommunity wellnessGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Wellness sponsor of 4th Annual Wellness Wednesday Workshops.
• Newport Healthcarecommunity wellnessGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Wellness sponsor of 4th Annual Wellness Wednesday Workshops.
• Valley Vista Recoverycommunity wellnessGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity Wellness sponsor of 4th Annual Wellness Wednesday Workshops.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Access: Supports for Living: Mid-Hudson Valley behavioral health provider offering mobile crisis, supportive housing, mental-health clinic services, and person-driven recovery programs; partnered with People USA at the Ulster County Center for Well-Being. Strong geographic and service-line overlap.

Direct peers

• Clubhouse International: Networks and accredits peer-run psychosocial-rehabilitation "clubhouses" worldwide that operate member-driven day programs for people with mental health conditions. Highly comparable peer-run membership-model approach serving people in behavioral health recovery.
• National Empowerment Center: Peer-run recovery learning community and advocacy organization offering training, technical assistance, and supports for peer-run alternatives to psychiatric crisis, including peer respites. Directly comparable to People USA's crisis respite and peer-support mission.
• Fountain House: A pioneering peer-run behavioral health nonprofit founded in NYC; operates Clubhouse psychosocial-rehabilitation programs for adults with serious mental illness. Most directly comparable to People USA given its founding ethos of members running the organization, lifting people out of behavioral-health crises, and pursuing national replication.
• RI International: Operator of peer-run crisis respite ("Arizona Model") facilities, crisis stabilization centers, and mobile crisis teams across multiple US states. Closest direct competitor to People USA's Rose House and Crisis Stabilization Center model, also partnering with counties and state systems to scale peer-run crisis services.
• Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery: Develops and disseminates the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) peer-delivered mental health model used widely by peer specialists. Closely comparable as a peer-run behavioral health training/consulting organization that licenses its model to counties and providers.
• Compeer Inc. National nonprofit delivering peer-mentor and community-support services for people in mental-health recovery, including within correctional settings. Comparable peer-support mission for behavioral-health populations, including justice-involved individuals.

Emerging players

• CHESS (Consumer Health Education, Engagement, & Support Services) / Max-Rentz Criteria: Technology-enabled peer-support and recovery-engagement platform that mobilizes credentialed peer specialists to support individuals with SUD and mental-health conditions. Comparable peer-run-for-recovery positioning and works with criminal-justice and county systems.

Broad incumbents

• National Council for Mental Wellbeing: Large US trade/advocacy organization representing community mental-health and behavioral-health providers, including CCBHC operators delivering peer and crisis services. Comparable as a peer-services/crisis-response advocate and trainer at scale, though much broader in scope.
• Mental Health Association of New York City (NYC Well): Large NY-focused behavioral-health nonprofit that operates NYC's crisis hotline and a broad portfolio of mental-health services. Comparable as a NY peer/community behavioral-health services provider with county/state contracts, though its mission is broader and clinician-led rather than 100% peer-run.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/peopleusanow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/projects-to-empower-and-organize-the-psychiatrically-labeled-people-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/peopleusanow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Projects to Empower and Organize the Psychiatrically Labeled, PEOPLe, Inc.