Alabama lawmakers seek dedicated funds for crisis centers amid surge in demand

Since opening in May of 2021, Alabama’s crisis centers have helped thousands of Alabamians suffering from mental health or substance use, with demand for the centers continuing to skyrocket.

While Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell has long advocated for additional crisis centers to cover the entire state, state lawmakers recently suggested a dedicated revenue stream should first be established before funding additional centers, citing future economic uncertainty.

Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Hazel Green, was among those lawmakers and expressed his hesitation to allocate new funds toward the construction of new crisis centers during a budget hearing at the State House. Reynolds chairs the House General Fund Committee.

“I sat with some of the mental health…