2-1-1 Continues to Grow

 

 

 

The top five needs reported by callers in 2011 are as follows:
1) Housing Support (utility assistance, rent assistance, homeless calls, subsidized housing);
2) Food;
3) Income support (tax preparation programs, state insurance programs, child care support);
4) Individual, Family and Community Support (case management, holiday, children/adult protective services) and;
5) Health Care (medical and dental care, prescription assistance, immunizations).

“In 2011, 2-1-1 put more priority on Housing and Homelessness support,” said Tiffany Bailey, director of the 2-1-1 Call Center. “Our Call Specialists do thousands of assessments for local residents in need of housing support, and they follow up to help ensure residents can find long-term shelter.”

“2-1-1 is a little like a help desk for the region’s social service agencies,” said Steve Hoffman, executive director of Community Action of Northeast Indiana and a member of the 2-1-1 Cabinet. “For example, 2-1-1 screens and does an initial assessment for anyone seeking housing services. 2-1-1 acts as the help desk to direct callers where they need to go and to help determine what services they qualify for. That way, my agency, CANI, can put all our staff’s energy into providing the services that help individuals become self-sufficient.”

United Way of Allen County operates the Northeast Indiana 2-1-1 Call Center, which provides service to the following ten Indiana counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. Financial support comes from various funding sources, but primarily from United Way or United Fund organizations.