Howard County offers emergency funding to help keep crisis center open after federal cuts
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced Tuesday that the county was offering $260,000 in "emergency funding" to a crisis center that provides intervention, mental health, substance abuse and other services.
The county funding comes after federal funding cuts forced the layoffs of 62 crisis counselors who work for Grassroots Crisis Intervention. The nonprofit provides free, 24-hour crisis intervention, housing support, suicide prevention and other services.
Grassroots provides services for the county's crisis center, where employees answer calls, chats and texts to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The nonprofit told CBS News Baltimore that it will eliminate 62 positions after its federal 988 National Backup Text and Chat contract ends Sept. 29, 2026. It said it will continue providing service to the crisis line from consumers in Central Maryland.
Grassroots said that more than 1,500 Howard County area residents walked through its doors last year to seek help with their mental health, addiction, homelessness and food insecurity. That's in addition to the 140,000 chats from people across the country who contacted the 988 suicide hotline while experiencing a mental health crisis.
"We are working to determine how this will affect our overall budget and operations, but this is not expected to affect Grassroots' other free, 24-hour crisis, mental health, substance use or homeless services, which are staffed by 130 professionals," a Grassroots spokesperson said. "We remain committed to serving individuals and families who are most vulnerable in our community and in need of critical, free services that can only be found at Grassroots."
Ball also said the county is working with the Office of Workforce Leadership, the Maryland Department of Labor, and Maryland Health Connection to help the employees who were laid off find work.
"We're moving forward with compassion, we're moving forward with care, we're moving forward for our community," Ball said. "We are working to take care of the people behind these numbers."
Ball "puzzled and surprised" at lack of funding
At a press conference Tuesday, County Executive Ball said he was "puzzled and surprised" by the decision to end the federal contract. "Grassroots Crisis Intervention is a critical part of Howard County's behavioral health safety net, providing lifesaving crisis services to residents when they are at their most vulnerable," he said.
"When federal decisions undermine the resources available to organizations like Grassroots, the consequences are felt right here in our community, not just by the dedicated professionals who lose their jobs, but by the people who rely on 988 and other crisis services when they need help the most," Ball added.
Ball noted that Howard County is recognized as one of the very best places in the nation to live, work, play and raise a family.
"And part of what makes that true is not only the things that we build here, but who we choose to stand beside when times are hardest," Ball said. "Grassroots is there on many of our worst days when all we need is a helping hand, a listening ear, or word of reassurance and encouragement. And for the past four years, that work has extended well beyond our borders."
Program funding comes from multiple places
The crisis hotline responds to 988 calls, chats and texts in Maryland and nationally. The organization is funded through Howard County government, state and federal grants, private foundations, and contributions from individuals, community groups, the faith community and local businesses.
