Dial 2-1-1 To Be Connected to Health and Human Services Programs

AUSTIN, Texas – By dialing 2-1-1, Texans affected by Hurricane Ike can be connected to health and human services programs available in their communities. An alternate toll-free number for the same hotline is 1-800-644-1917.

Operators on the free hotline have access to database listings of nearly all health and human services that exist in Texas, including those offered by nonprofit organizations. These services can include referrals to:

• Rent and utility assistance
• Food resources
• Emergency sheltering options
• Employment assistance
• Medical and mental health assistance
• Help with transportation
• Trained suicide intervention counseling

Operators can also connect callers with information on affordable child care, education resources, legal and financial assistance and help recovering from a disaster.

Information and referral is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information can be provided in more than 90 languages.

On the 2-1-1 Web site – www.211Texas.org – users can search available services by program name or type of service. They can limit their search by city, county or ZIP code. The site also offers specialized search options for services for children, including childcare and education, and services for people with disabilities.

“The Texas 2-1-1 line and Web site connect residents to critical services,” said State Coordinating Officer Joan Haun of the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM). “Being able to locate these is especially important after a disaster, when people may be away from their homes – and away from usual sources of assistance and childcare providers. Hurricane Ike may also have created new needs for families, and 2-1-1 can help them find solutions.”

Any individual looking for information or assistance to identify the services best suited to meet his or her needs is eligible to call 2-1-1. Case managers, church leaders, employers, teachers or other agencies acting on behalf of their clients, members, employees or students are also welcome to call.

“Assistance from FEMA and other disaster-recovery agencies can include help compensating for some disaster-related losses, such as housing and personal property expenses,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Sandy Coachman. “But the disaster could create or exacerbate other needs that FEMA isn’t able to directly assist with – for example, the need to locate childcare, job training or transportation. The State of Texas 2-1-1 service offers a direct connection to these kinds of local resources.”

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FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.