United Way 2-1-1's Accomplishments for 2009

In its sixth year of operation, United Way 2-1-1:

• Assisted more than 21,808 callers who needed help or offered to give help, representing a 38% increase over the previous year and more than doubling the number of calls from 2007.  The most frequent requests were for assistance with rent and utilities.

• Achieved direct 2-1-1 dialing with all major wireless providers including AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile, and  Verizon.

• Applied to become the new administrative body for Community Voice Mail service for homeless and under-served persons throughout the CSRA.  Under United Way 2-1-1’s leadership, the existing service will be expanded to more agencies in Richmond County and expand to agencies in Burke, Columbia, Jefferson, Lincoln, and McDuffie counties.

• Collaborated with Economic Opportunity Authority (EOA) to administer pre-screening questionnaires to applicants for federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

• Initiated the “2-1-1 On the Go” program serving clients in local homeless shelters. Only the second program of its kind in the country, “2-1-1 On the Go” provides a backpack filled with personal hygiene products, ten city bus tickets, and information needed by homeless persons.  “2-1-1 On the Go” works to assist in putting homeless individuals into employment and housing by providing both printed materials and face-to-face information and referrals to the homeless as well as those agencies serving the homeless .