“ 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that links people who want to get or give help with up-to-date information on community services and volunteer opportunities,” said Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way of America. “Every hour of every day, someone needs essential services – from finding an after-school program to securing adequate care for an aging parent. 2-1-1 helps people find and give help by providing information on child care, elder care, job training, schools, volunteer opportunities, housing, and countless other community needs.”
The Calling for 2-1-1 Act was introduced in a bi-partisan effort by Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), along with Representatives Richard Burr (R-NC-5) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA-14) and is currently co-sponsored by 31 Senate and 136 House members. Additionally, the Act has the strong support of a grassroots coalition comprised of United Way, partners such as the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and scores of other civic and business organizations across the country.
The Act would authorize $200 million annually to assist states with implementing and sustaining 2-1-1 statewide. States would have to provide a 50 percent match to the grant, which could come from current 2-1-1 funding in the community, such as funding through United Way or other non-profits, state and local government, foundations and businesses. Funding would be administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Today, only about a third of the U.S. population has access to 2-1-1, serving approximately 94 million Americans through 137 active 2-1-1 systems in 26 states. While it is a tool that has benefits in everyday life, it has proven a powerful resource in times of crisis as evidenced over the last few weeks in the State of Florida, where more than three-fourths of the population has access to this important service.
2-1-1 Call Centers have been directing victims of Hurricanes Charley and Frances to needed services such as shelters, food, medical assistance, disaster preparedness and response activities, post-disaster assistance and recovery information. 2-1-1 Call Centers have direct access to power companies and provided up-to-date storm information – particularly when stranded callers or the elderly may not have access to television or radio broadcasts, and in some cases when residents have needed help evacuating their homes.
In the weeks following Hurricane Charley, 2-1-1 call centers in Florida handled more than 100,000 calls, with some call centers handling as many as 500-700 calls per hour in the most affected communities. Similar call volumes were experienced during and after Hurricane Frances. One 2-1-1 call center in Lee County handled more than 60,000 calls in five days after Hurricane Charley, and another in Manasota reportedly connected more than 8,000 volunteers with 7,000 families needing assistance in DeSoto County, where almost half of all housing units were reported as severely damaged or destroyed.
While the benefits of 2-1-1 are continuing to be realized, sustaining funding remains the greatest barrier to bringing this valuable service to the entire nation. The Calling for 2-1-1 Act would help more Americans get access to the 2-1-1 service for community, volunteer, health and human service information and referral, however, without adequate federal support, 2-1-1 will not reach a nationwide population. United Way will continue to urge Congress to pass the Calling for 2-1-1 Act this year and is urging all citizens who want to help to contact their members of Congress, governors and their local United Way or just call 1-888-PASS-211 or visit www.211.org, for more information |
