Everett Crisis Center Faces Layoffs as Federal Funding for LGBTQ+ Youth Hotline Ends
Volunteers of America Western Washington says about 55 employees could lose their jobs after federal officials announced the end of funding for a specialized 988 line for LGBTQ+ young people.
By Jennifer Paige · · Originally reported by The Everett Herald
A crisis call center in Everett that serves LGBTQ+ young people is preparing for layoffs after the federal government said it will end funding for a specialized suicide hotline. The Trump administration's decision affects Volunteers of America Western Washington, one of a small number of centers nationwide that staff the service.
The center joined the LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in 2023. The program offers specialized crisis counseling to LGBTQ+ people under 25, a group at disproportionately high risk of suicide, according to Levi Van Dyke, the organization's chief behavioral health officer.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced on June 18 that it would end funding for the program within 30 days. As a result, call centers across the country will no longer be able to offer the specialized service after July 17.
Volunteers of America Western Washington is one of seven centers in the country with a 24/7 hotline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth. Since 2023, its chat and text lines have handled 48,000 contacts, while the program as a whole has recorded more than 1.5 million contacts nationwide. Many young people currently know they can call 988 and press 3 to reach a specialized counselor, and Van Dyke warned that removing that option abruptly could be dangerous. "It starts to erode trust or the perception of consistency out in the community," he said, adding that people may wonder whether 988 itself is going away.
Van Dyke said about 55 employees face layoffs. The organization can only move people into existing openings, and he said it has little capacity to hire under its other contracts. He first learned of possible cuts in April from a leaked draft of the administration's budget and assumed funding would last until the contract ended in September, but the organization instead received 30 days' notice.
Van Dyke also said call volume could shift to the main 988 line, lengthening wait times across the country. Rena Fitzgerald, the organization's executive director of behavioral health, said that even a few seconds can be fatal on a crisis line, particularly when a caller has already begun a suicide attempt. "That is absolutely going to cost lives," she said.
A report from The Trevor Project found that in 2024, nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ young people in Washington seriously considered suicide during the year, and 1 in 10 attempted it.
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, met with the organization's leaders on Monday to discuss the effects of the cuts. Chief executive Brian Smith said other possible federal reductions, including to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, could worsen the impact on LGBTQ+ youth. Larsen said lawmakers should begin planning how to rebuild the social safety net, health care access, affordable food and behavioral health services.
Volunteers of America Western Washington is working with other 988 centers in the state to provide specialized training for supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Those seeking specialized help after July 16 can reach The Trevor Project by calling 1-866-488-7386, texting "START" to 678-678, or using the live chat at thetrevorproject.org.
