Don't Hang Up on Californians: Save the California Peer-Run Warm Line

In the upcoming California state budget, funding for the California Peer-Run Warm Line is at risk of being severely reduced. If this happens, the Warm Line will be forced to shut down starting July 1, 2025 — cutting off a lifeline to thousands of Californians in emotional distress. 

That’s why our team went to Sacramento on May 1, 2025, to speak directly with legislators — not just with facts, but with stories. 

The CA Warm Line isn’t just a phone number. It’s one of the few accessible, immediate emotional support services in California that doesn’t require insurance, doesn’t come with long wait times, and never passes judgment. It's peer-run, meaning every call is answered by someone who’s been there — someone who listens with empathy and lived experience. 

Our Sacramento delegation included advocates, survivors, and everyday Californians who know the power of being heard. To put it simply: 

“Please don’t hang up on Californians.” 

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco not only runs the CA Peer Run Warm Line – but also a network called the Tele Health Emotional (THE) Support Coalition: 

• CalHOPE Red Line supporting Native American communities 

• Hug Space offering trauma support for Ukrainian, Russian, and English communities 

• Mental Health Association of Chinese Communities, supporting Mandarin, Cantonese, and English communities 

• Call Blackline for Femme, Queer, Black, Indigenous; English and Haitian Creole communities 

• California Youth Crisis Line for young people in crisis 

• Project Return Peer Support Network for Spanish and English communities 

• Peer Voices of Orange County for Spanish, Farsi, Vietnamese, & English communities 

• Code Tenderloin supporting those going through street-based intervention, crisis de-escalation, & emergency service diversion 

• HEAR US supporting those on 5150/psychiatric hold, currently or recently 

Within this Coalition, the Warm Line Federation is a partnership of culturally and linguistically specific warm lines, focused on serving communities which are often left behind. These services provide lifesaving care for people navigating trauma, addiction, hate crimes, and isolation — especially those who can’t access or afford traditional therapy. 

As one peer counselor shared: 

“This kind of connection can be life-changing — and in some cases, lifesaving.” 

💬 Here’s How You Can Help — in Under 2 Minutes:

• 📞 Call or email your local legislator: templates available on savethewarmline.org 

• ✍️ Sign the petition: available on savethewarmline.org 

• 🔁 Share on social media with #SaveCAWarmLine  

Call or text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a peer counselor 24/7. We've been California's official, statewide Warm Line since 2019.  

Don’t let this lifeline go silent. Stand with us. Save the Warm Line.