Fourteen organizations in Ohio operate free, 24/7/365 helplines that people reach by dialing 211. Providers of this service from across the state gathered March 19 at the Ohio Statehouse. They met with legislators to seek support for a $2 million budget request to expand 211 services to all Ohio residents.
When people call 211, trained operators thoroughly assess callers’ needs. Using a robust database of resources, 211 team members match those needs to available resources offered by local organizations. Such resources may include employment, food, housing, utility assistance, tax preparation, health care and more.
Ohio is one of three states without 211 coverage for its entire population; 30 Ohio counties with approximately 1.5 million residents do not have full access to 211 services. Some of those counties have the highest poverty and unemployment rates in Ohio. Providing 211 services in those counties would connect individuals and families to essential services.
In 2024 alone, Ohio 211 served over 786,000 Ohioans. Callers’ top needs were food, housing and utility assistance. Without a connection to 211, these Ohioans may have ended up in emergency rooms, shelters or other state and federal programs. When people connect to care at the onset of a crisis, they can recover more quickly, become more self-sufficient, and transition off public benefits and other government assistance programs.
That’s why it’s vital to secure $2 million in annual funding for Ohio 211, and why it was important for dedicated advocates to gather at the Ohio Statehouse to share this information with legislators. Our advocates included United Way team members, partner organizations and corporate champions of United Way. Our group met with nearly 10 legislators.
As Ohio’s budget session continues, please reach out to your elected officials and let them know you support Ohio 211’s budget request. You can find your state representatives and state senators on Ohio’s Secretary of State website by typing in your address and toggling between the House Districts and Senate Districts buttons on the top of the map.
Advocacy days such as our trip to the Ohio Statehouse are vital to the work we do, and we thank everyone who joined us. If you would like to get involved with our advocacy work, please sign up for our advocacy emails.
