Why You Should Dial 988 Instead of 911 When a Homeless Person Is in Distress
Article excerpt
When a homeless person experiences a mental health crisis, calling 911 may escalate the situation rather than help it. A growing body of evidence suggests dialing 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline, offers a safer alternative that connects people with trained counselors instead of police. For unhoused individuals facing both stigma and increasingly hostile anti-homeless laws, this distinction can mean the difference between de-escalation and confrontation. The 988 line, available nationwide, prioritizes mental health intervention over law enforcement response, potentially preventing unnecessary arrests or dangerous police encounters.
Calling 911 on Someone in a Mental Health Crisis Can Make Things Worse. There’s a Better Option.
For unhoused folk, stigma and misconception can pose serious threats to their safety, particularly with anti-homeless legislation on the rise.
In many public spaces, acts of survival like sitting and standing are against the law for homeless people to engage in. Unnecessary contact with police officers increases the risk of brutality and removes law enforcement officials from their duty to fight actual crime.
This is why calling the cops on homeless people is usually ill-advised. But what should you do if you see an unsheltered person squirming in the heat, suffering from something that looks like a heart attack, or appearing to be mentally unwell? The answer is to dial a different number… 988.
988 Is the National Crisis Lifeline
Established in 2020 and nationally implemented in 2022, 988 was designed to be an easy-to-remember alternative to its counterpart, 911. (Note: 911 should still be called for immediate physical emergencies like a heart attack.) This distinct line puts vulnerable people in touch with professionals who were trained to help them through crises.
Comprised of an interwoven network of more than 200 crisis centers, 988 has counselors on hand providing free and confidential services anytime, anywhere. Those counselors are trained and equipped to meet unsheltered residents where they’re at, both figuratively and literally.
“988 operators send mobile teams out in response to the calls,” explained Bruce Lockett, who is a Philadelphia-based mobile crisis director for Elwyn. “In most states, mobile teams are dispatched to the location of the crisis, depending on the severity of the situation.”
What Makes 988 A Better Call?
988 is a hotline designed specifically for crisis. This includes:
Mental health crisis
Domestic disputes
Suicide attempts or ideation
Any other crisis, including homelessness and exposure
988 is operated by culturally competent counselors who are there to address a wide variety of situations. The hotline has several features that 911 does not have that make it preferable for homelessness and distress. Among them are:
A specialized line for veterans, which can be accessed by dialing extension 1
Chat and text capabilities
Spanish text and chat features
Video phone features for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Suicide prevention specialists
Addiction specialists
Assessment services and more
Because 988 is an emergency response and assessment system, if operators feel the situation requires the intervention of law enforcement, they can dispatch it over to 911.
These professionals are trained to know which professionals are most equipped to handle different types of emergencies and can react accordingly. For this reason, if you see a homeless person who appears to be in trouble and you’re uncertain of what to do, 988 operators can make that call for you. The call could be forwarded to the police if a medical emergency requires immediate attention.
This is the line that connects counselors with emergency services and law enforcement, yet many people, including homeless people, are unaware that it exists.
Homeless People Should Dial 988 If They Are in Crisis
If you are currently homeless and experiencing an emergency, 988 offers help without coercion or expectations. Lockett encourages unsheltered homeless people to dial this number if they are in need of services. It is free to chat, call, or text, and services can be administered while maintaining confidentiality or even anonymity.
“We’re just there to help service unsheltered folks in any way that we can,” said Lockett. “It is our job to talk people through emotional crises, suicide ideations, addiction troubles, domestic disputes, etc. “
“A lot of unhoused people don’t trust clinicians,” Lockett continued. “They might not trust doctors or policemen, depending on their experiences. But they will talk to us. A lot of them are afraid to use their real names. And that’s okay. We can still complete the assessment and offer them help without their real name or identification.”
Walking to Raise Awareness: The 988 5K In Philadelphia
Last month, the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) hosted a walk on Eakins Oval to raise awareness of the hotline in the City of Brotherly Love.
May is mental health awareness, and 988 is a judgment-free service the city wants people to access and use. In support of that mission, advocates, patrons, and even their pets took a 5k stroll along Eakins Oval and MLK Drive. The annual event is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and crisis intervention.
In a statement addressing all Philadelphians, DBHIDS Commissioner Kehinde Solanke said, “The 988 5K is more than a walk, run, stroll, or roll; it’s part of a citywide commitment to prioritize mental health. Every step taken on May 17 helps break stigma, spark conversation, and connect our community to critical, lifesaving supports and services. And we need residents to know that they matter.”
Tell Your Local Representatives That Homeless Residents Matter to You
All residents, including homeless residents, deserve the same access to emergency services. That access should not come with the possible threat of imprisonment or brutality. Due to the rise in anti-homeless legislation and the recent pressure campaign to crack down on unsheltered homeless people in general, even seeking help in crisis can be a perilous act for them.
Now, as the sidewalks are permeated with record-breaking heat and more people than ever are sleeping on top of them, please remind your representatives to embrace human rights. One of the most crucial of those is the human right to housing.