CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank laid off 100 workers Monday, but there will be no impact on any of CommUnity’s Iowa City services or its State 988 services.

The layoff comes after a failure to renew the contract for the 988 number National Backup/Chat Text services. CommUnity attributes the loss of the contract to changes in the procuration of contracts by their funder, Vibrant Emotional Health. Vibrant gave them three weeks’ notice that funding for this service would no longer be provided.

CommUnity appealed the funding decision and anticipates the outcome to be one that is unfavorable to renewing the contract.

According to CommUnity communications manager Emma Huntzinger, CommUnity has not created a new contract to provide National Backup Chat/Text services for 988, which the organization has provided since 2012. 

The 988 number answers suicide and crisis text messages across Iowa and the U.S.

CommUnity Crisis Services state that the contract loss was unexpected as the center itself is in good standing. Currently, its answer rates and report cards are of high quality.

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CommUnity was able to save 38 employee jobs and move local workers into other positions within the agency. For those who have been laid off, CommUnity is working to find new positions with agencies engaging in similar work. 

As an agency, CommUnity itself is not at risk at this time. None of their other services are in danger Huntzinger said.

CommUnity is still providing National 988 Backup Phone for their LGBTQIA+ line, the Iowa State 988 chat, text, and phone services, and the University of Iowa Emotional Support Line.