NC211 links residents to resources
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 30, 2018 5:50 AM
Most are familiar with dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency or 4-1-1 for automated directory assistance.
But United Way of North Carolina also sponsors another easy-to-remember three-digit number to access free and confidential information on resources within the community -- including housing, food assistance, prescription assistance, mental health or clothing needs.
Dial 2-1-1.
"It's just that simple," said Dustin Bannister, strategic initiatives director of United Way of Wayne County.
The program has been around for a number of years, explained Steve Parr, executive director of the local nonprofit.
"At least 15 years in North Carolina," he said. "We have probably funded it over 10 years."
In addition to getting the word out of its existence and the services it provides, officials hope to solicit responses from other agencies in the surrounding area to ensure information is up to date.
"We have noticed that some of the data is dated," Bannister said. "In the nonprofit world, turnover and change occurs fairly rapidly.
"211 is a system," he said. "It does a very good job of trying to follow up with different agencies and organizations to make sure data is current."
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the free information and referral service is different than most systems that are automated. With 2-1-1, a trained specialist assists and conducts a search based on the caller's location.
"There are 19,000 resources in North Carolina," Bannister said. "We don't know how many are in Wayne County but we have 72 pages of data. We also know that that's missing a lot of people, missing some agnecies that have come in the meantime.
"What we want to do for those agencies is also give them an opportunity to get on the system."
There is nothing worse than being in crisis or having an immediate need and being linked to a resource that is no longer in service, Bannister said.
Having the latest contact information readily on hand when the calls come in benefits everyone, from the residents to the agencies in place for that purpose.
This will be addressed with an upcoming blitz in the county, on Oct. 9, Bannister said.
United Way will be coordinating it to collect and update details on local programs and services.
"That will be at various locations around the county in the different cities," he said. "We're going to be partnering with the public library and other agencies to offer an all-day kind of open opportunities for agencies to come in and register and to get their information onto 2-1-1."
Currently, there are two call centers in North Carolina, based in Raleigh and Asheville, Bannister said.
"They have intake specialists that talk them through, to get some very basic information," he said. "You can also go online and do it. But it's very common to call in because they need that human voice."
For more information on NC211, visit the local website, unitedwayne.org or nc211.org.