Nonprofits like United Way and various government agencies provide excellent programs to support people in need. The problem: The people who need these programs often don’t know they exist. Although 2-1-1 no longer serves Branch County, 517-278-SAFE is a referral source locally for those seeking services.
This is why United Way supports the Calling for 2-1-1 Act. The bill would create a national social service hotline, 2-1-1, to help people find organizations that can help them.
There are already 240 active 2-1-1 call centers in 46 states, but they lack the resources needed to build an adequate telecommunications infrastructure, provide appropriate staff levels and training, establish or maintain 24-hour-a-day service, ensure complete and accurate informational databases, and reach rural populations. The Calling for 2-1-1 Act would provide funding necessary to meet these needs. If this funding were to be made available, Branch County would once again have 2-1-1.
While there is significant support for the bill, we need your help to ensure that legislators view passage of the bill as a priority and get it done.