Meeting draws community leaders to spread the word on United Way 2-1-1 Northeast Region

At the press conference (left to right): Katherine Pelham, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region; Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian; Keith Pickett, Executive Director of Family and Children's Service of the Capital Region.

Nick Viggiani, District Projects Director for Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY 21st) receives 2-1-1 posters from Mary Rozak, Senior Resource Development Manager for United Way of the Greater Capital Region.

Joseph Cybulski, Rensselaer County Commissioner of Unified Family Services the Department for the Aging, discusses 2-1-1 services with Mary Rozak of United Way.

TROY, NY – Community leaders joined United Way of the Greater Capital Region at a press conference in Troy to spread the word that 2-1-1 is the number to call for free and easy access to information on human services ranging from food and housing assistance, to child care, senior programs and agencies that connect volunteers with local projects.

“Even the most knowledgeable people find it challenging to navigate the complex web of human care in a technology-driven global society,” said Katherine Pelham, CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “United Way got behind the 2-1-1 Northeast Region collaboration because we believe in addressing the underlying issues that stand between individuals and the services they need to overcome challenges and succeed.”

Joining United Way officials at the press conference and information session were Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, Troy City Councilman John Brown; Keith Pickett, Executive Director of Family and Children’s Service of the Capital Region, and members of the local business community as well as news media. The meeting was hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Mayor Tutunjian said city officials often field calls from residents seeking information on housing, financial assistance, or applying for benefits. “When I first heard of this (2-1-1) program, I was thrilled,” he said. “In these challenging times, this helps people find the services they need.”

Currently, 2-1-1 systems cover all or part of 44 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

UNITED WAY 2-1-1 NORTHEAST REGION is a program of Family and Children’s Service of the Capital Region in collaboration with United Way of the Greater Capital Region. The local service covers 12 counties in eastern New York: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington.

“The 2-1-1 Northeast Region call center began full operation in April,” Pickett said. He said the top five reasons that people called in July were 

• for utility bill payment assistance
• for short-term financial assistance for specific personal problems
• for help in locating food pantries
• for case care management assistance for people with disabilities or mental health issues
• for rent payment and eviction assistance.

Pelham said that 2-1-1 benefits all segments of the community including residents, newcomers and visitors; human resource professionals and staff who administer workplace Employee Assistance Programs; school-based, hospital-based and community-based social workers; municipal planners; and anyone who wants to cut through the complex maze of social service providers and eligibility requirements.

A broader benefit of 2-1-1 is that call center statistics will allow community leaders to spot trends and identify pockets of emerging need so they can be addressed proactively before they become community-wide problems, Pelham said.

“Our goal and our dream is to be able to offer this service 24-7 in multiple languages and with web applications available in every public library,” she said. “But we know that this will require time, talent and dollars.” A consortium of 2-1-1 partners is working to secure state funds, corporate underwriting and foundation support to sustain and grow the service, Pelham said.

UNITED WAY 2-1-1 NORTHEAST REGION currently operates Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call center volunteers receive extensive training and have access to a growing database that currently includes 1,400 human service agencies.

For more information, go to www.211neny.org 

United Way of the Greater Capital Region is dedicated to bringing people and resources together to achieve measurable and sustainable improvements in the quality of life for our community.