New Leaf, LGBT Mental Health Center, Closing Doors

Sadly, New Leaf is being turned over

​Exploding costs of health care benefits and leases will force New Leaf -- a 35-year-old San Francisco center serving the LGBT community with mental health, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS services -- to close in October.

The center's board of directors announced that it is "financially impossible to continue to operate," according to a press release from the city's Department of Public Health (DPH). "Regrettably, the harsh economics of today's climate have been too much for us to overcome," said Thom Lynch, New Leaf's interim executive director. 

The DPH has been working to transfer the center's clients to other LGBT organizations. The Lyon Martin Health Center will provide mental health and substance abuse services, the AIDS Health Project will provide HIV/AIDS and mental health services, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation will provide substance abuse services.

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