211, an Easy Number to Remember when You Are in Need of Human Services

September 11th will remain permanently etched in our memories as one of the worst disaster to hit American soil. Our country has changed as a result of this disaster. One positive change is the realization that citizens needed one phone number to call to find help. This number is 211, an easy number to remember, when you are in need of human services. Following the September 11 attacks, the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute got together and reported that in Washington, D.C., the recovery efforts were, "haphazard and disjointed." The study found that people found it difficult to connect with available resources. Hence; 211 was conceived. United Way of America and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems petitioned the FCC in 2000 to designate 211 as the official referral phone number.

Since the September 11 attacks, 211 has proven to be a valuable, centralized entry way for people. Even though only 75% of Floridans had access to 211 during the hurricane in 2004, 211 played a crucial role during that emergency. Reassuring callers, mobilizing and managing volunteers, serving as intake for service providers, this easy number was an important bridge to valuable resources.

In January, 2007 both houses of the 110th Congress re-introduced the Calling for the 2-1-1 Act, which if passed, will provide funds to designated 2-1-1 state entities. The bill authorizes $150 million for years one and two, and $100 million for years three to five. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will help implement and sustain 211 across the USA. States would be required to match the Federal dollars by 50%, in order to receive the Federal monies.