The first appointment is often the hardest one to schedule. A new walk-in program is designed for people who need to talk with someone now but may not know which kind of care or referral fits their situation.

Staff can provide an initial conversation, help with a safety plan, and connect residents to longer-term providers. The program is not meant to replace emergency services, but to make the step before and after a crisis less isolating.

Organizers are tracking demand by time of day and age group as they plan future hours. They say the most useful measure will be whether people leave with a next step they can actually take. Some new stuff.