WINSTON-SALEM, NC – United Way of Forsyth County (UWFC) is partnering with United Way Worldwide to celebrate National 2-1-1 Day on Saturday, February 11, to recognize and spread awareness about the free resource number and website.
Supported by United Way, the 2-1-1 program was first launched 1997 as a way to connect people with essential resources in their communities. The free, confidential, easy to remember phone number and website (nc211.org) connects Forsyth County residents to essential community information and services such as healthcare, rent and mortgage assistance, food and shelter, job training, transportation, childcare, senior care, veteran services and much more.
Since its inception, more than 17 million people have dialed 2-1-1 on their phones in the United States for assistance. Among that 17 million, major areas of assistance have included 4.7 million callers for housing and utilities assistance, 2.8 million for food and meals, 1.1 million for healthcare and healthy life choice and 183,000 for education assistance.
In North Carolina, 2-1-1 data reveals that more than 142,000 total requests were received in the past year. In Forsyth County, where the poverty rate is 18.6 percent, higher than the state’s 17.5 percent rate, top 2-1-1 requests are 25.8 percent for housing and shelter, utilities 12.1 percent, healthcare 9.3 percent and food 7.8 percent. In the category of housing and shelter, rent assistance is the top request at 42.3 percent.
“Each and every day, someone in our county needs essential services. Whether they need help for a weather disaster or in everyday situations such as finding free tax preparation sites, 2-1-1 powered by United Way helps them find important health and human services in our local community,” said Cindy Gordineer, UWFC president and CEO.
To get more information and help with housing, utilities, crisis, emergency, health and food assistance, call 211 or visit nc211.org.