Let's Address the Elephant in the Room: Budget Cuts

We're still here, and that matters more than you might think. 

Managing the downsizing after a significant funding loss. 

The last nine months have been surreal, full of ups and downs. In January 2025, our outlook was grim – no funding was allocated in the initial state budget. By May, a glimmer of hope emerged when we learned that the California Warm Line was allocated partial funding. In early June, the Legislature stepped in to fully fund the request necessary to operate 24/7. Even with this legislative win, the delayed funding and reduced budget earlier in the year forced us to make difficult decisions to protect the program’s long-term viability. Fortunately, the Warm Line ultimately received funding to maintain core services and capacity. Still, this significant change in funding has led to tough measures to protect the program and the organization’s future. 

Over the last two months, we’ve had to issue layoff notices to over 200 peer counselors. These individuals provided 24/7 emotional support to more than 35,000 Californians through 275,000 calls, texts, and chats in the last year alone. At its peak, demand soared to 41,000 contacts per month. Yet, our capacity maxed out at 25,000. With an average of 20 minutes per call, those 200 peer counselors delivered over 5.5 million minutes of care and support in the last year alone – a staggering testament to their dedication. These colleagues woke up every day with one goal: to help others heal, cope, and in many cases, survive. Sadly, their absence will be felt deeply, not just within MHASF, but across California and the communities they served. 

As MHASF continues to navigate this new funding reality with staffing and operational cuts, we’re left with the elephant in the room: Who will the people turn to when we can’t answer? In a system that’s already overwhelmed, there will now be more cases that escalate to crisis and emergency situations that the Warm Line could have prevented, increasing the overall cost to the already strained healthcare system. To add to this challenge, there is and will continue to be a shortage of licensed clinicians for the foreseeable future. Peer counselors, when deployed correctly during pre-crisis stages in the mental health system of care, can ultimately reduce the demand on licensed clinicians for higher acuity and elevated crisis cases. 

These changes didn’t happen in isolation; they reflect broader policy decisions that have ripple effects across our communities. The California government made tough decisions to ensure the state was on good financial footing, but unfortunately, those decisions were made on the backs of many critical programs and services that served those with fewer resources to access care. Study after study shows that when people don’t have access to services, their health outcomes decline, leading to poorer community outcomes and worsening economic conditions. 

This is not the end – it’s a turning point. We want to build on the gracious support from the Governor and the Legislature. Over the next year, MHASF has made it a priority to secure funding so Californians can once again call the Warm Line 24/7. With renewed determination, MHASF is reaching out to private entities, foundations, and local county agencies, and developing non-traditional revenue to restore the Warm Line to its full capacity. 

I believe that together, we can shape a brighter future for the California Warm Line. 

KEY CHANGES
(EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 15, 2025)

New hours:  
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday:
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM 
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM 

Closed on MHASF-observed holidays 

Service availability:
Continuing: Live peer support via phone/chat/text during posted hours; resource referrals; nonclinical mental health support.
Modified: Overnight coverage paused, Spanish Warm Line paused.

Mark Salazar, MHA 
President and CEO 
Mental Health Association of San Francisco 

P.S. If you would like to support or partner with MHASF and the California Warm Line, please reach out to Mark Salazar. We are currently exploring both public and private ventures.