Most people are able to dial 911 for emergencies and 411 for information, but very few people know how to contact social services when time is of the essence. In 20 counties in Oregon, residents can dial 211 to research social services.
As part of the plan to bring the ability to dial 211 for social services to every resident of Oregon by 2013 through a strategic partnership with United Way, Klamath County is reportedly next in line and the hotline will be available to them by the end of 2012.
The counties lining the coast and situated in north central Oregon began implementing these services in 2004, leaving just Klamath, Lake, Harney, Malheur, Grant, Baker, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties.
With the more-populated areas of the state already covered by the hotline, Oregon appears to be on-track with its effort to make the service statewide in the next year and a half.
The 211 hotline provides more than just immediate assistance in cases of domestic violence; the service also offers information on a wide range of community services, answering questions about homelessness, counseling services, addiction services, financial assistance, environmental services, transportation services and disability services.
Like 911, 211 is a free service. They provide extensive support and resources via SMS, their website, and the call centers that have already been implemented in many counties in Oregon.
Non-English speakers have the option to choose from 150 languages and calls made to the hotline are completely confidential.
211 call centers are gaining popularity throughout the country, offering people a go-to resource for information that is sometimes difficult to find or embarrassing to ask for. Although Oregon is one of the first states to embrace 211 statewide – alongside Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Illinois and Alaska – it is quickly gaining popularity throughout the country.
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