What is 2-1-1 and How Dialing It Can Help You

In recent weeks we've heard Victoria city officials offering during our live Emergency Management Meetings that community members who need additional 'resources' should "Dial 211".

We are familiar with dialing 911 in an emergency, and 411 for information, but what is 211 and how does dialing it help us with resources?

We dialed 211 just to find out.

Turns out, 211 is the most comprehensive source of locally curated social services information in America and Canada.

Even though some of us have only recently heard of it, 211 been around for twenty years serving an estimated 30 million Americans since its inception. In 2018 the impact of 211 services across the Unites States reached 12.8 million for the year. We can only begin to image how many individuals 211 will serve in 2020.

Established in July 2000, by the Federal Communications Commission, and supported locally in Victoria County by the Victoria Health Department, 211 is reserved as a dialing code for community referral and information services. As of 2019, 211 is available to 94.6 percent of the US population. Thankfully, Victoria Texas is a part of the population 211 serves. And these services include;

• Disaster Response and Recovery
• Human Needs Resources
• Employment Support
• Mental Health Support
• Older Adult and Persons with Disabilities
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Children, Youth and Family Support

A call to 211 connects you to a community resource specialist in our community who can put you in touch with local organizations that can provide critical services to you; from food resources to housing assistance, employment opportunities as well as addiction prevention, support groups and health care.

All calls are confidential and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

If you'd like to connect to 211 via this article, simply click here to get started.