9-1-1? Don’t Forget 2-1-1: Flat Funding Hurts Connection To Resource Demands

News release from United Way of Connecticut: <blockquote>Today, February 11th (2/11) is National 211 Day – an annual observance celebrating the go-to, 24/7 three-digit (2-1-1) resource that helps millions of people in Connecticut and across the nation. The three-digit service – which United Way of Connecticut has operated in our state for nearly 50 years – connects residents to resources and services available in their communities. “211 helps people, improves lives and strengthens communities,” said Tanya Barrett, United Way of Connecticut Senior Vice President, 211 Health and Human Services. “211 is a unique asset to our state: we’re a ‘one stop shop’ connecting people to services and benefits that meet their urgent needs and improve their lives. During 211 Day, we celebrate this service and our partnerships across the state that allow us to serve residents in every town in Connecticut.” 211 is a vital resource leveraged by Connecticut residents who need assistance with basic needs including food, housing, utilities and child care or are seeking help during a disaster. 94% of callers surveyed report they are satisfied with the service 211 CT provides and 75% say that 211 helped them meet their urgent need, like 35-year-old Waterbury resident Samantha Rosado. Samantha Rosado hit rock bottom after losing the home she had lived in with her family when her mother died. With no home and no transportation, she had to take a leave from her new nursing studies at Porter and Chester. Desperate, she called 2-1-1. She shares, “211 helped place me in a shelter, referred me to an outreach program, legal services to help battle my mom’s landlord, a case manager and food pantries.” Now, Samantha has a job as a server at a new sports pub in Bristol, and she is saving for an apartment of her own. “211 took me out of a bad environment and was my steppingstone to get me to where I am now,” she shares. “When I felt hopeless, 211 was there.” Last year in Connecticut, 211 responded to more than 1.7 million requests for help for immediate and long-term challenges, with housing and mental health requests at the top of the list. Steep increases in prices, coupled with one of the nation’s tightest housing markets, mean that more Connecticut residents than ever are turning to 211 for help. That’s because when you call 211, a compassionate person is at the end of the line saving a life, transforming a family or changing a community – one phone call at a time. Trained contact specialists connect callers to local services and state and federal benefits to help meet basic needs. 211’s database includes 40,000+ community programs and services provided by dedicated community partners, from food pantries and housing programs to mental health resources. Despite increasing need, 211 Connecticut’s core funding has been flat since 2009. That means 211 has lost frontline staff to answer Connecticut residents’ urgent calls. Additional investment in this important service would allow 211 CT to help more residents. Long wait times discourage callers and negatively impact on 211’s ability to connect them with the essential assistance they need. Lisa Tepper Bates, President & CEO of United Way of Connecticut, shares, “211 CT’s resources and capacity do not match Connecticut residents’ needs. We are seeking additional funding to expand our contact center staff so that we can assist more callers, more quickly each week.” 211 has operated in service to Connecticut since 1976, supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut’s 14 local United Ways. Government and community partners trust United Way of Connecticut and work closely with 211. Commissioner of the CT Department of Social Services Andrea Barton Reeves shares that in her role “as Chief Executive Officer at Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority, our partnership with 211CT was critical to educating workers and employers about the CTPL program; their customer service is unmatched. Now as the Commissioner of DSS, we rely on 211 to provide our residents with key state, federal, and community resources related to health care, food and cash assistance so that Connecticut families stay healthy and secure.” Brenda Bergeron, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) says “DEMHS appreciates its partnership with United Way of Connecticut 211, which assists with communication and information before, during and after emergencies and other natural disasters. This includes supporting the State Emergency Operations Center with public messaging and awareness of local incidents and individual needs, as well as serving as the central point of communications about cooling and warming center locations in communities during severe weather impacting the state.” Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, says, “211 serves as an essential partner in the fight against food insecurity because it is often the very first resource people turn to when they are in need of food. Connecticut Foodshare and our neighbors rely on 211 daily to access agency partner and mobile pantry information and we depend on them for helpful data as we plan for the future.” “There’s been a 31% increase in homelessness from 2021 to 2024,” says Sarah Fox, President and CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. “Today we are facing unprecedented challenges in our effort to prevent and end homelessness. 211 plays a critical role as the front door to our state’s coordinated homelessness response network, as the first place that people in need can call to find help. We value our partnership with 211 to help serve those in most need.” Other key facts about 211: <ul> <li>211 is 24/7, free and confidential</li> <li>211 is offered in more than 180 languages</li> <li>211 contact specialists offer empathetic, non-judgmental care, connecting individuals and families to a range of available resources to meet their needs</li> </ul>   During 211 Day, United Way of Connecticut encourages residents to: <ul> <li>Call, text or chat 211 if they or someone they know needs help</li> <li>Share 211 widely with neighbors, family, friends to connect others to help and supports</li> <li>Advocate to your local legislators about the importance of and need to strengthen 211</li> </ul>   Supporting 211 services for CT residents is now more important than ever. Give now at <a href="https://www.ctunitedway.org/give/">ctunitedway.org</a>. ###   ABOUT UNITED WAY OF CONNECTICUT 211   211 is a free, confidential information and referral service that connects people to essential health and human services 24/7/365 online or over the phone. 211 CT is accredited by Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and the American Association of Suicidology for crisis intervention. 211 CT won the Association’s National 2022 Crisis Center of Excellence Award and is the nation-leading service for 988 callers – 211 CT answers 95% of 988 calls in less than 10 seconds. United Way of Connecticut was recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as a 2023 Best Workplace in Connecticut. Learn more at <a href="http://www.211ct.org">211ct.org.</a> Visit our <a href="https://www.ctunitedway.org/mediacenter/media-request/">media center</a> for media requests and inquiries.</blockquote>

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