United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region marks one year anniversary
ALBANY, NY – As United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region marked its one-year anniversary of service in the Greater Capital Region today, community leaders came together to celebrate its value to the region’s residents, noting that in the first year of operation nearly 10,000 calls were made to 2-1-1.
United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region provides an easy to remember phone number – 2-1-1 – that offers free, direct, confidential and professional assistance for human services to residents in the community. It serves as an important referral center for callers from 12 counties who need help with issues concerning food, shelter, clothing, child care, crisis counseling, substance abuse issues, health resources, employment, financial and legal issues, physical and mental health needs, senior care, volunteer opportunities and more.
At the celebration event, The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation announced that it has awarded a two-year $25,000 grant to United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region to help support the service.
“Our foundation has awarded a grant to United Way 2-1-1 in response to what we have seen as a critical need: access to accurate information about non-emergency services and resources in our region,” said Leslie A. Cheu, executive director of foundation. “In these very challenging economic times, there are many people who never had to seek help in the past, but now need support and guidance. We hope that people in our region will turn to United Way 2-1-1 for the answers they need as they navigate through these troubled times.”
Following several years of planning and preparation, United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region was launched April 27, 2009 at the call center located within the home office of Family and Children’s Service of the Capital Region at 650 Warren St. in Albany. It operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Times have been tough and United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region has helped provide the information and referral needed for nearly 10,000 calls so far,” said Katherine Pelham, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “Calls came from people who were challenged with paying their rent, utility bills or putting food on the table. Our 2-1-1 information and referral specialists are trained to give those callers the help they need and to listen for other areas in which the caller may need assistance.”
U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko said, “I want to thank the United Way and its partners for providing this valuable service to our region. Especially in these difficult economic times, United Way 2-1-1 has been an important resource for those with a variety of critical needs. This service enriches our community by providing for a better outcome for those who are seeking help or information on our region and its services. I commend the United Way for continuing to be a leader in community service and for making the Capital Region a better place to live.”
The call center serves Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties and is operated by Family and Children’s Service of the Capital Region. During the first year, nearly 28 percent of all calls came from Albany County, with 18 percent from Schenectady, nearly 10 percent from Rensselaer County, and nearly nine percent from Saratoga County.
The top three reasons for calls to the center were for information about the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, rent payment assistance and temporary financial assistance. Other top reasons for calling were for information on food pantries, legal counseling/legal aid, utility bill payment assistance, job search or placement, utility bill payment plan negotiation assistance, job assistance centers and shelters for the homeless.
The network also allows for the quick dissemination of crisis preparedness information, especially during times of natural disaster, and can enhance public safety and crisis recovery efforts. The service can also result in substantial cost savings to communities as a result of the reduction of non-emergency calls to 9-1-1.
Corporate support of United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region from GE, IBM, Bank of America, and M&T Bank has helped support operational costs.
“The work at United Way 2-1-1 has just started,” said Pelham. “This service provides real-time information on issues and trends for governments on all levels, human resource departments and businesses. Our partnerships continue to grow as leaders, communities and companies realize the benefits of 2-1-1 and help to support it.”
United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region also functions as a resource for businesses, providing real-time information for human resource professionals, hospital social workers and for individuals new to the community who are seeking information about what the region has to offer.
United Way of the Greater Capital Region brings people and resources together to achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in the quality of life for our community.