2-1-1: Getting People the Help They Need

2-1-1 California:  Connecting people to services and resources in their communities. 

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects people to essential community information and referral services. The goal of 2-1-1 California is to connect all Californians with the services, information, resources and volunteer opportunities in their communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  When a person calls 2-1-1, specially trained “real people” answer the call and determine what services, information or resources are needed to help the caller.  2-1-1 now serves 225 million Americans in all or part of 45 states, serving over 75 percent of the U.S. population. 

Learn more about how 2-1-1 can help people in your community find food, shelter, job training, mortgage assistance, senior services and more.  And, discover how critical 2-1-1 can be in times of disaster.

When disasters strike, 2-1-1 can help field non-emergency calls leaving 9-1-1 operators to handle true emergencies.  In 2007, 2-1-1 operators handled 100,000 calls due to wildfires in San Diego and Southern California.  And, this year California 2-1-1 operators pitched in to help evacuees from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.