Blog - United Way of East Central Iowa

Happy Birthday, 2-1-1!

Written by United Way Team | Feb 8, 2017 10:11:43 PM

13 years ago, United Way launched 2-1-1, a community helpline and website. Trained professionals connect callers to health and human services in their community.

Here are some quick facts about United Way 2-1-1

  • Who does 2-1-1 help?
    • Anyone who needs help! It helps people in Iowa and around the country access a variety of local resources:
      • Locally: Partners with nonprofit organizations
        and is a communication hub for emergencies
      • Regionally: Supports 42 counties and 13 United Ways
      • Statewide: Five Iowa call centers that support the entire state
      • Nationally: Supports 93.5% of the United States
  • How many people does it help?
    This past fiscal year, 2-1-1 received 29,337 calls and 29,503 web searches and served nearly 60,000 individuals.
  • Why do people call?
    • Income, housing, and utilities support
    • To schedule a free tax preparation appointment with VITA
    • Physical and mental health
    • Employment support
    • Assistance for older adults and people with disabilities
    • Assistance during natural disasters, like the floods in 2008 and 2016
  • Why should I call?
    • 2-1-1 is easy to use
    • It’s free to call
    • It is completely confidential
    • You can call 24/7
    • They have multilingual assistance available

Whether in times of personal uncertainty or natural disaster, 2-1-1 is here for our community.

Get connected to a database of more than 4,200 resources:

  • Call 2-1-1 or 1-866-469-2211
  • Visit 211iowa.org
  • Text your zip code to 898211