Across the nation, 2-1-1 call centers are celebrating hard-working staff and reminding people, especially those without internet access, that they can always make free and anonymous phone calls to 2-1-1 to get access to local social service agencies.
Leaders from the Dallas region 2-1-1 office released data showing their top 5 needs in 2022 were to help people with rent, electric bills, water bills, finding food pantries and finding help related to housing authorities.
Following the pandemic, calls for housing assistance started going down but due to inflation and rising housing costs, they're rising once again. Housing-related calls jumped from roughly 20 percent in 2021 to 33.5 percent in 2022. "I know unemployment is low, but a lot of people in our community aren't able to make enough money to afford a place to live. And that's coming through in the calls we're getting," said Sharla Myers, the CEO of the Community Council of Greater Dallas.Sign up for NBC DFW newslettersCommunity Council of Dallas runs 2-1-1.
Myers says she anticipates an increase in calls for food assistance as emergency food stamps will be discounted at the end of this month.To help expand capacity to help more callers, reduce wait times and address the need for more staff, the nonprofit is also launching its first-ever 2-1-1 Day Fundraiser. Myers issued a challenge and will match all donations up to $5,000. For example, if a donor gives $100, the CEO will provide $100.