Impact & Funding
The Triple R Approach
Responsive
Easily accessible, culturally competent emotional and mental health peer support for all Californians.
Responsible
Cost-effective services that reduce the burden on crisis systems (988, 911, ERs), with an estimated savings of $93M per year.
Reliable
24/7 availability through calls, texts, and chats.
Growing Impact
The CA Warm Line's impact has grown significantly over the years. Since its inception, it has responded to over half a million total calls, SMS texts, and chats between July 2019 and December 2024—a dramatic increase from just 96,000 interactions in its first four years. With a previous average of 9,800 interactions per month, the CA Warm Line and the CalHOPE Warm Line reached a peak of 21,000 calls, texts, and chats in December 2024.
Impact of Initial $10m State Funding (FY 2019 – 2022)
Impact of $43m State Funding (FY 2022-2025)
Projected Growth
Post-pandemic demand rising 22-50% annually
Nearing 100,000 contacts per year
Connected calls grew 37% in the past year alone
Funding needed to hire additional Peer Counselors
Five years after the height of the pandemic, mental health needs continue to surge across California. The demand for accessible support services has become a permanent fixture in our society, driven by increased awareness, reduced stigma, and recognition of mental health as an essential component of overall wellbeing. The California Warm Line has established itself as a trusted resource that Californians rely on during their most vulnerable moments.
This trend is clearly reflected in our metrics. Over the last two years, our annual connected call count grew by an average of 37%, which far exceeded our previous aggressive projections of 15% growth year-over-year. Our total incoming call volume has increased by 7% on average year-over-year. We need to almost double our full-time equivalent employee count over the next fiscal year to accommodate calls we are currently unable to reach and account for increasing call volume.
Emergency Response
Our impact extends beyond everyday mental health support. During the devastating wildfires in Paradise, North Complex, and the more recent Southern California Fires, the CA Warm Line provided crucial emotional relief to affected communities. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, our service was a lifeline for many, offering critical mental health support during an unprecedented public health emergency.
Wildfire Response
During the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the CA Warm Line saw a dramatic increase in calls, jumping from just five wildfire-related calls in December to over 500 in the first two weeks of January.
As disasters become more frequent and severe, the CA Warm Line and CalHOPE Warm Line will continue to play an indispensable role in disaster-related mental health prevention and recovery, offering compassionate, peer-led support when Californians need it most.
Cost Savings: $93M in Healthcare Savings
The CA Warm Line provides an alternative to 911 and emergency services for non-crisis mental health concerns, diverting calls that would otherwise unnecessarily burden emergency and crisis responders.
• 77% of surveyed users throughout the state believe that using the CA Warm Line reduces the likelihood of them needing to call more costly crisis services such as 911, suicide prevention, or hospitals.
• In 2021, the average price of an ER Evaluation & Management (E&M) visit was $1,317, and the average price of an ER visit including all services was $2,909.
• Urgent care visits cost $1,502, and traditional mental health therapy sessions typically cost between $100–$200 per hour in the United States.
The Numbers
• 15% of callers would seek costly ER services without Warm Line support
• 14,400 ER visits prevented annually
• Estimated annual savings: $93.6M in reduced ER & inpatient costs
• Unfunded Warm Lines = More crisis escalations, overloaded hospitals, and 911 system
Funding Request
Request
The California Warm Line seeks $20 million annually for FY25-26, FY26-27, and FY27–28, to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour operations and the flexibility to meet rising demand.
Budget Request Breakdown
Impact if Funding is Stopped
Significant gaps remain in California's mental health continuum of care. The expiration of our current funding in 2025 threatens the progress we have made and risks leaving thousands of Californians without critical peer support service in the form of our Warm Lines.
Impact of Continued Funding
Funding would increase capacity to serve between 300,000+ calls, chats, and texts per year in English and Spanish, with an additional 240+ languages available through third party translation to respond to nearly 500,000+ calls, chats, and texts per year.
