To facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all residents and visitors in the United States for mental health emergencies, homelessness needs, other social and human services needs, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 18, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
The HELP Act of 2023 aims to strengthen and coordinate two national helpline services—211 and 988—to better connect Americans with mental health support, homelessness assistance, and other human services. The 211 service provides general information and referrals for health and social services, while 988 is the suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The bill authorizes $550 million annually for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 (split between $350 million for 211 and $200 million for 988), and $450 million annually from 2026 through 2030, to help states expand and coordinate these services with the goal of making them accessible to all residents 24 hours a day. The legislation creates a national oversight board and requires each state receiving funding to establish a Human Services Collaborative and State Oversight Council that includes service providers, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, and other stakeholders to guide local implementation. States must contribute at least 25 percent of funding from non-federal sources and use the money to expand call center capacity, improve accessibility, train staff, and coordinate with 911 systems to divert calls from law enforcement to appropriate social services when possible.
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