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Q&A
Funding decrease for the 988 mental health hotline
2:33:01
·
61 sec
Council Member Riley questions the decrease in funding for the 988 mental health hotline despite increasing call volumes. The administration explains the reason for the budget reduction.
- The 988 hotline experienced 335,000 calls and texts this year
- Funding decreased by $10.9 million in fiscal years 2025 and 2026
- OMB explains that DOHMH reached a cheaper agreement with the vendor
- The administration assures that the funding decrease will not cut services
Kevin C. Riley
2:33:01
Okay.
2:33:02
Chair, if I may.
2:33:03
Thank you.
2:33:04
988 is the city's dedicated hotline for New Yorkers to call for all of their medical excuse me, their mental hygiene needs including mental health concerns and additional services.
2:33:15
We know that this year the program experienced a call and text volume of 335,000.
2:33:20
DOHMH testified that they believe this volume will increase if more New Yorkers were aware of this number nine eight eight.
2:33:28
The program is funded at 21,800,000.0 in fiscal years twenty twenty five and 2026 which is a decreased number of 10,900,000.0 compared to fiscal year twenty twenty four.
2:33:40
What are the factors that contribute to such a decrease?
2:33:43
And do you plan to restore the 10,900,000 in fiscal year twenty twenty six adopted budget?
Jacques Jiha
2:33:48
I believe what happened is DOHMH reached an agreement with the vendor and, you know, and the agreement is cheaper.
2:33:57
Okay?
2:33:57
So therefore, that's the reason
Kevin C. Riley
2:33:58
But it won't cut the services?
Jacques Jiha
2:34:00
No.
2:34:00
It won't
Kevin C. Riley
2:34:00
cut the services.
2:34:01
Alright.