effect, right? You get the shot and then you get the flu.
and then you get the flu.
If you’re not careful. All
right. For a lot of folks,
especially these tough times.
It’s 3 numbers, 3 numbers that can connect people to community
can connect people to community
resources. Those 3 numbers are
2, 1, 1, That’s the help line
for the United Way. Joining us
to talk about it million
president and CEO of the United
Way of Greater Houston. Amanda,
good morning. How are you
doing?
>> I’m great. How are you this
morning? Wonderful. you know, I
hope for for many a safe and
grateful holiday season.
Start with Thanksgiving.
This week. But for those that
need help, 2, 1, 1, What
exactly is that number? Where
does it go?
>> 2 on one is a free
confidential helpline is
operated by United Way of
Greater Houston. It operates
24 7, 3.65. And that is a place
where you can call if you need
help finding food or
food stamps. Child care help
for an elder care when you
don’t know where to go, you
don’t know where to call.
You can call 2, 1, one for
help.
>> What a resourced up can.
Can you talk a little bit about
how many calls you guys taking
a typical month?
>> You know, we we typically
take around
100,000 connections a month.
So this year we’re already in
over 1.1 million connections
across the greater Houston and
across the state who won the
one that we operate United Way
of Greater Houston is the
largest helpline and its kind
in the country. So lots of
activity and and lots of wants
and needs right now in the
community and the man who’s
taking these calls for you
guys. How does that work?
>> We actually have train
called specialist who can
not just that hearing,
reassuring voice on the on the
other in the line, but actually
a lot of expertise and the
resources available to the
community.
>> What are some of the top
needs? You guys are saying
about 100,000 calls is quite
a You know, other trends.
Is there an issue you’re seeing
repeatedly within that
100,000 every month?
>> We do see some pretty clear
trend this year and well over
20% to 21% of those connections
are related to rent and
mortgage assistance. That’s
compared to about 14%. Last
year. We had a lot of rental
assistance programs last year
providing a lot of help a lot
of those funds have been spent.
So that far and away the
biggest connections. And in
about 19% of connections are
also for utilities assistance.
So those are 2 other areas.
People can reach out to us and
find help and hope.
>> So how does that work with
say somebody picks up the phone
they make that call. Are you as
the United Way you’re
connecting them with with other
resources? Is it whether it’s
charity organizations are
public assistance. Where
exactly are you guys pointing
folks?
>> You know, we we have a we
have a resource database of
over 6,000 resource across the
state of taxes. So people can
call to give us their zip code
and we can give them. We can
tell them what resources are
available in their area.
And people can also actually
text. They can text their zip
code to 8, 9, 8, 2, 1, 1, And
then give us some information
about what kind of help they’re
looking for. We can
automatically provide resources
for the top agencies in the
area. For example, local food
where to call and bigger,
really have an incredible
utility assistance program.
We partner with them on the
resources like that.
>> Do you ever have the need
for new operators and other
folks to kind of join the
mission that you that you’re
doing.
>> We we always where we’re
always looking for, caring,
talented people to help join
our network and service
providers and become one of
these incredibly talented and
valuable resource specialist
down in the United Way of
Greater Houston Dot Org.
If you need help, you can
connect through there or you
can just call 2, 1, 1, And if
you’d like to join our
incredible 2, 1, one team.
Absolutely going to say one
>> Amanda McMillian, president
and CEO of United Way of
Greater Houston. Amanda, thanks
so much for your time today.
We hope this resource will
will. You know, we’re glad to
spread the word to to
Houstonians may need it.
So thanks again.
>> Thank you so much. Really
appreciate it.
>> And folks, we do have more
information about 2, 1, 1, in
the helpline at click 2 Houston
dot com. If you search 2, 1,
one and as a scene at 7 is the