Many of us will never know what it feels like to face life’s challenges alone, without family or friends to turn to for help. Many of us will never know what it feels like to be scared and without escape, to have hungry kids and not enough food, to fall down and be unable to get back on our feet.
For those who do, the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is the place to turn to for help and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
“I grew up in a small community and all of us knew that if we needed anything, there were neighbors, there were friends,” Harris County Judge Ed Emmett says. “Unfortunately, in an urban area like ours, that is not necessarily the case.
"Having a resource like 2-1-1 gives people an outlet they can reach to find relief. It’s a vital resource for our community.”
Every call to the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is answered by a HELPLINE specialist with social service expertise and a commitment to serving those in need with care and compassion. HELPLINE specialists are highly-trained professionals, all of whom have degrees and many of whom have master’s degrees.
"Having a resource like 2-1-1 gives people an outlet they can reach to find relief. It’s a vital resource for our community.”
They work the largest social service database in the state to connect callers with anything from food and rent assistance to quality child care programs to help caring for an aging parent.
Last year alone, they answered more than 940,000 calls for help. One of them was from Joseph. Joseph has one master’s degree and is working toward his second. With a good education, he never thought he would need help making ends meet.
But, after losing his job and struggling to find another, he called the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE desperate for help feeding and housing his two children.
A HELPLINE specialist listened as Joseph explained his situation, his fears and his dreams. She helped Joseph move into an affordable apartment, get assistance with food and improve his resume — and his job prospects. With help from the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, Joseph was able to get back on his feet, back to work, and back to providing for his family.
The number of calls to the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE grows every year, having nearly quadrupled since 2005.
A strong economy and robust employment market made 2014 a good year for many Houstonians, but even when times are good, many people in our community struggle. The 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is here for each and every one of them, providing life-changing services to support individuals and families in good times and bad.
The 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is nationally-recognized and is the largest HELPLINE of its kind in the country. It is a free and important community service that United Way of Greater Houston is proud to offer our neighbors. In 2014, the top calls were for food, medical and prescription assistance, help with utilities, rent and mortgage assistance and help finding shelter.
On top of the critical basic needs assistance 2-1-1 provides our neighbors every day, 2-1-1 is the number to call for up-to-the-minute information, resources and assistance in times of disaster. The 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE also has veterans and United Way THRIVE specialists on staff to meet the unique needs of military personnel and families working to become financially stable.
The number of calls to the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE grows every year, having nearly quadrupled since 2005. Thanks to the support of generous donors, someone is there to answer every one of them.
Learn more about United Way of Greater Houston and the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE at www.unitedwayhouston.org.
