ALLENTOWN, PA — Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 budget provides the state’s first dedicated funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, committing $10 million to expand round-the-clock crisis response and another $5 million to preserve walk-in behavioral health stabilization centers.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh outlined the investments Friday during a visit to the Lehigh County Crisis Intervention Center in Allentown. The stabilization-center funding will prioritize regions with limited access to immediate, in-person behavioral health care.
The 988 allocation will allow DHS to double the number of Pennsylvania centers handling text and chat contacts from three to six. It will also support continuous operations at all 988 centers and help counties coordinate “warm handoffs” from 911 operators to crisis specialists…