Drop-In Centers Fear Cuts

With the state budget at an impasse and financial cuts to social services imminent, the mental health community braces for what services may be terminated.

Drop-in centers are a major concern.

Recently, The Allegheny Department of Human Services held two public meetings - about a hundred people attended the second one, most of them mental health consumers and providers.

It was officiated by Pat Valentine who said the global financial crisis means some of the social services people are accustomed to will be lost.

Pennsylvania's budget is nine weeks overdue. The county's office of human services is at least twenty-five million dollars delinquent in bills to providers.

A drop in center is a place where someone with a mental health diagnosis can informally spend time with others. Its a free service.

We visit two in the county.

Listen to the story here.