Disaster Distress Helpline (Short Title: DDH)

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA is a federal agency responsible for improving the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illness. This funding opportunity is part of SAMHSA’s broader mission to support behavioral health services and strengthen national capacity to respond to crises affecting mental health, particularly in the aftermath of disasters. The primary purpose of the Disaster Distress Helpline program is to provide immediate, confidential, and accessible emotional support services to individuals and communities throughout the United States who are experiencing psychological distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. This includes events such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, mass violence incidents, public health emergencies, and other crises that may result in widespread emotional or psychological trauma. The program emphasizes accessibility, ensuring that services are available to diverse populations across geographic and demographic lines. Funding under this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in program implementation and oversight. The total estimated program funding is $1,953,000, with a single expected award at that same amount. The funding is intended to support the continuation or operation of a national helpline infrastructure capable of delivering crisis counseling, emotional support, and referrals. Allowable uses of funds likely include staffing, technology infrastructure for call and text services, outreach and awareness campaigns, and coordination with disaster response systems, although specific allowable cost details would be outlined in the full notice of funding opportunity. Eligibility for this grant is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit entities. This includes organizations with the capacity to operate national-level services and manage high-volume communication systems. The eligibility criteria indicate that applicants must demonstrate organizational capability, infrastructure, and experience relevant to delivering behavioral health support services. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity, reducing financial barriers to participation for qualified nonprofit entities. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov by the stated deadline of June 15, 2026. While the summary information does not list pre-application requirements such as letters of intent, applicants are expected to complete the full application package, which typically includes standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, budget justification, and supporting documentation demonstrating organizational capacity. SAMHSA generally evaluates applications based on criteria such as program design, organizational experience, staffing, and the ability to achieve measurable outcomes aligned with program goals. The timeline for this opportunity includes a posting date of May 15, 2026, and a closing date of June 15, 2026. The opportunity does not indicate that it is recurring, suggesting it may be a one-time or irregularly issued funding announcement. Award decisions and project start dates are not specified in the provided summary but would typically follow several months after the application deadline. For assistance or additional information, applicants may contact the SAMHSA Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management, via phone or email as provided in the opportunity listing.