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Info and Referral Service Marks First Anniversary |
Local requests for assistance support the needs raised during last week’s National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. Housing-related requests topped the list of calls from .Charlevoix and Emmet County residents during the first year of operation of the 24-hour Information and Referral phone hotline. The service began in September 2010 in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Free, confidential services are provided 24/7 via trained information and referral specialists at Community Access Line of the Lakeshore (CALL 2-1-1), the regional call center in Muskegon.
Service reports by CALL 2-1-1 show that, in the first year of service, 183 calls were received for both counties -- 110 from Emmet and 73 from Charlevoix. The highest volume (44%) in both counties was for housing and utility assistance-related requests. In Emmet County, the top three reasons for calls were: Housing/Utilities, Transportation, and Health Care. In Charlevoix Counties, they were: Housing/Utilities, Health Care, and Information Services.
“As the effects of the recession continue to hit Northern Michigan hard, the 2-1-1 service can provide an important safety net,” says Martha Lancaster, United Way Executive Director. “People who have never needed to ask for help now need it, and don’t know where to turn. This confidential, comprehensive service is filling that need.”
Char-Em United Way has taken the lead to bring the 2-1-1 service to our area. Over 80% of the population of both the US and Michigan are served by a 2-1-1 system. This easy-to-remember number can be called anytime for non-emergency information on local health and human services. The services began locally, using the interim, toll-free number 1-877-211-LAKE (5253), and approval to switch to the 2-1-1 calling number is expected early in 2012.
The report also shows the number of calls for which the needs was deemed “unmet.” This is largely because the caller was not eligible for the services that were available. In some cases, they were seeking services not available in the community.
United Way has raised initial support for 2-1-1 services in our community and is continued to raise sustained financial support for the program.
A downloadable flyer with the Information number can be found at here For more information, contact United Way at 231-487-1006 or info@charemunitedway.org.
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