211

211 connects neighbors to everyday services assistance that make lives better, and disaster counseling. Here’s how the 2,000 trained community resource guides help communities.

211 does more than patch people through to help. 211 specialists are trained to identify and address the causes of problems. They also connect people to local resources that can meet all their needs—from food, housing and utilities, to health care, jobs and childcare—not just the one that prompted their call, text or email to 211. Read about

During disasters, 211 helps spread the word about evacuation. It points people to shelters and helps them find food and water. And it connects them to federal agencies in the rebuilding phase. 211s from other regions step up to field calls in disaster-stricken areas. Here’s how 211 was there for New Jersey during a tropical storm.

During tax season, IRS-trained call center operators staff United Way’s MyFreeTaxes helpline in the U.S., answering questions to help people file their state and federal tax returns.

An average of 42,000 people contact 211 on any given day. And those numbers are growing. The annual 211 Impact Survey is the only one of its kind to collect data from all 50 states on the challenges households face. Housing as well as utility and food assistance were the top needs identified by people who contacted 211 for help.