Robin is a new mom who found herself in the unfortunate situation of having a broken water heater just as winter was approaching. Without any other resources to offer, a resource navigator from 2-1-1 Colorado at United Way of Weld County (UWWC) informed Robin about Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) to help her get the financial assistance she needed.
Thanks to 2-1-1, Robin applied and qualified for assistance and received the help she needed from LEAP to repair the water heater.
When Robin called 2-1-1 for help, she wasn’t just “patched through.” She connected to a real person, who from that first hello guided her to the help she needed. 2-1-1 specialists are trained to identify and address the root causes of your challenge – and to connect you with a wide range of resources that meet all your underlying needs, not just the one that prompted the call, text, or email.
What makes 2-1-1 valuable to residents in Weld County and northeastern Colorado?
- Full-service live resource navigator help through calling, texting, of web chatting on weekdays or by going to www.211colorado.org 24 hours per day.
- Proven ability to effectively uncover additional client needs over and above initial reason a contact is made, resulting in more holistic service.
- Cost effective, time efficient approach for clients and practitioners to help locate human service/referral needs with one call and/or use of current technology.
- Significant cost savings to communities through better resource coordination, avoiding service duplication and by dedicating staff to comprehensive call center and database operations.
We should support 2-1-1 because it continues to be a valuable service to people within our community who need to be connected with resources that are available, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It creates the central place to be able to get people connected to the resources they need.
2-1-1 provides personal referrals for such needs as: food, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits enrollment by phone, children with special health care needs, child care options, older adult needs, medical and dental care, immigration, prescriptions, mental health, home repairs, clothing, housing, rent/utility aid, emergency shelter, volunteer/donation opportunities and more.
From October to December 2020, 2,896 contacts were made to 2-1-1 through phone, text, email or live chat. The top needs during that time were rent payment assistance (23 percent), utility assistance (18 percent), individual, family and community support (10 percent), education (9 percent), food/meals (8 percent) and clothing/personal/household needs (7 percent). UWWC oversees 2-1-1 in a region that includes Weld County, Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties.
Every February 11, 2-1-1 Day is recognized throughout the country, but every day from January through December residents such as Robin in Weld County and northeastern Colorado access 2-1-1 for assistance. Ninety-four percent of the callers said they would recommend 2-1-1 to family and friends.
2-1-1 is not possible without the donations of individuals, businesses as well as the support of government and local foundations. Every contribution makes a difference, as does helping to increase the economic viability of individuals and families in Weld County through the Enterprise Zone Contribution Tax Credit (25 percent credit for donations), which can be directed toward programs like 2-1-1. Click here to make a donation today.
For those needing assistance, dial 2-1-1 or (800) 559-5590 toll free, text your zip code to 898-211 and search our database or live chat at www.unitedway-weld.org/211.
If you know of a resource that should be in the 2-1-1 database, contact me at (970) 304-6192 or email me at margie@unitedway-weld.org. And if you know of someone like Robin who could use help in paying a portion of their home heating costs, call 1-866-432-8435 or go to www.unitedway-weld.org/LEAP.
Margie Martinez is the regional outreach coordinator for 2-1-1 Colorado at United Way of Weld County.
