Wednesday marks four years since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v Wade, allowing states to decide whether to allow or ban access to abortion services.  

Just months after that decision, the city launched its Abortion Access Hub, a call center that’s connected more than 15,000 people to abortion services since its launch. 

Now, the city and state are celebrating a new partnership: the expansion of the hub.

“This is nothing new for us,” said city Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. “We’ve been doing this in New York state, caring for people not just in our state but for others as well since the very beginning of abortion access.”   

Most callers to the hub are city residents. About 4% are calling from throughout the state.  

With $495,000 in additional state funding, the hub will be able to better connect clients to providers beyond the five boroughs.  

“If someone needs these services, they can get it often the same day or the next day,” said state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonnell. “That type of access to care needs to be available everywhere throughout New York state, no matter how rural or remote it is.” 

The Abortion Access Hub is not only connecting city residents to providers. About one-quarter of people are calling in from other states seeking abortion services in New York. Many of those callers are in states that have banned abortion services. 

“If the federal government is gonna step back from its responsibility, then we need to do what we can to keep people safe,” Martin said. 

35% of those out-of-state callers are from Florida, 27% are calling from Texas and 15% from Georgia, followed by New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  

City leaders say using resources to help non-New Yorkers is an economic justice issue.    

"When you think about the economic factor and the responsibility, you want to make sure that every woman has a choice,” said Helen Arteaga Landaverde, the city’s deputy mayor for health and human services. “Her job factor, or her just goals and life that she wants to have.” 

We reached out to the White House and governors of the states with the highest calls to the hub. Only Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s staff responded in a statement saying, in part, “While New York City uses taxpayer dollars to facilitate abortion on demand, Texas focuses on life-affirming policies that help women and families right here at home.” 

“We have a Statue of Liberty out there for a reason,” McDonald said. “New York is a haven for health care.” 

The Hub is funded through city and state dollars, but a coalition of nonprofits helps pay for abortions, as well as lodging and transportation. 

The demand is growing. New York Abortion Access Fund says it spent just over $500,000 on abortion services in 2021, compared to $3 million last year. 

“We have about 40% of our funding comes from the city and state,” said Chelsea Williams-Diggs, executive director of the NY Abortion Access Fund. “The rest comes from foundations and grassroots donations.” 

About 60% of New Yorkers calling the Hub are younger than 30 and make less than $25,000 a year. More than half are Spanish speaking. The vast majority are Black and Latina, which points to what experts say is a lack of healthcare access in low-income neighborhoods in the city.