“Thank you for calling 2-1-1 Texas Bryan College Station. My name is Hilda, how can I help you?” asks Hilda Salazar at the 2-1-1 Texas call center at United Way of the Brazos Valley. Salazar is part of a team of people ready to answer the call to help residents who don’t know where to turn. 2-1-1 Texas is a free information hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to all Texas residents. Anyone can dial 2-1-1 to receive information about local health and community resources. This call center, located in Bryan, is one of 25 call centers creating a network covering 100 percent of Texas residents.
“Last year, United Ways of Texas released a report on individuals who live above the poverty line, but might not have the resources to remain financially stable if they experience a crisis like losing a job or a major injury or illness, and if a financial disaster strikes, 2-1-1 Texas is there to answer the call for help,” says Alison Prince, president & CEO of United Way of the Brazos Valley.
Prince is referring to the ALICE report, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed individuals. These are hardworking families, but they might not be able to afford basic necessities, like childcare or transportation. According to this report, 26 percent of Brazos County households are in the ALICE category, and 25 percent of households are living in poverty. For friends and neighbors in crisis, voices like Salazar’s and others at 2-1-1 Texas can offer hope.
In 2019, Brazos Valley residents placed 19,217 calls to 2-1-1 Texas. The top reasons Brazos Valley residents called 2-1-1 Texas were for housing assistance, utility assistance, and support services, like case management and holiday assistance, respectively. 2-1-1 Texas compiles this data to send to city and county leaders to share the needs of the community with them.
2-1-1 Texas plays a vital role in disaster response by providing information to those affected. When disasters like floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes strike, residents can call 2-1-1 Texas for information about where to find shelter, food, clothes, donation sites, and many more recovery efforts. In 2017, 2-1-1 Texas’ disaster response services were deployed to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. In order to handle the influx of calls during a disaster, 2-1-1 Texas uses increased staff time and volunteers to answer calls. 2-1-1 Texas holds regular trainings to teach the public how to be 2-1-1 Texas Disaster Volunteers.
Each year, 2-1-1 Texas celebrates national 2-1-1 Day on Feb. 11 by raising awareness about this vital community resource. This year, 2-1-1 Texas is planning multiple outreach events, including a booth at First Friday, city proclamations, and presentations at local businesses, as well as an online drawing to win prizes donated by Crossfit Obey, Grand Station, and Panera Bread with a combined value of more than $400. To learn more about 2-1-1 Texas, visit www.uwbv.org/211texas.
Courtesy of the United Way of the Brazos Valley
