OUR POSITION ON STATE FUNDED 211 FIRST CALL FOR HELP:

United Way of Greater Lorain County (UWGLC) believes the State of Ohio must continue and increase its commitment to 211. UWGLC supports permanent statewide funding for 211 in the state operating budget in an amount that complements and leverages local philanthropic investment.

INTRODUCTION:

211 is a free, 24/7/365 service for individuals in Ohio. Community resource specialists receive calls from individuals and match the callers’ needs to available resources in their community such as employment, food, housing, utility assistance, counseling, substance use treatment, legal services, tax preparation, and health care.

In 2024, 211 programs across Ohio handled 786,557 assistance requests, including calls, texts, chats, and emails, which addressed 918,541 needs. The top needs from callers in 2024 were food, housing and shelter, and utilities. Without connection to 211, these individuals may have ended up in emergency rooms, shelters, or other costly state programs. When people are connected to services before an emergency arises, they can recover more quickly and become more self-sufficient. 211 also plays a key role in pandemic and emergency response efforts.

Ohio’s residents have demonstrated an increased need for health, mental health, substance use, employment, and social services, highlighting the necessity for statewide 211 access. Ohio’s unemployment rate is 5 percent, well over the national rate of 4.2 percent, and the poverty rate is 13.4 percent, above the national average of 11.5 percent. And last year, there were 89,381 drug overdose deaths, which was a dramatic improvement from 2023. To address these issues, community members must have ongoing access to vital health and social services. These systems can be difficult to access when people do not know where to go. The 211 number is easy to remember and always available. 211 saves lives and state funds. Connection to social services keeps people out of the hospital, in their communities with their families, and on the path to maintain self-sufficiency.

All but 2 states provide funding to 211. In Ohio, 211s are almost exclusively funded by charitable or local dollars or a combination of both and received no state funding until 2026. There are currently 13 call centers providing 211 services in Ohio, all as members of the Ohio Alliance of Information and Referral Services (AIRS). Through a partnership between the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio 211 that launched in mid-2026, all 88 counties in Ohio now have access to 211 services, eliminating previous gaps in coverage and creating a unified statewide system.

State funding through DCY is helping support this expansion and enhance service coordination, particularly for children and families. However, ongoing operational funding remains critical to ensure long-term sustainability, consistency, and quality of 211 services across Ohio. Continued state investment that complements local philanthropic support will strengthen Ohio's ability to connect residents with essential health and human services resources.

A $2 million investment by the state would match the philanthropic investment United Ways make in 211 each year.