Solutions for any homeless person in Lee County are now literally a phone call away.
Thanks to the United Way of Lee County and the S3 Housing Connect, Lee County’s homelessness task force, anyone experiencing homelessness in Lee County can call 211 from any phone at any time to speak to a trained specialist who can determine the caller’s needs and refer them to the agencies best suited to meet them and even begin the intake process for shelter stays if necessary.
“Creating and utilizing a coordinated entry process for receiving services has been a major goal of S3,” said S3 Housing Connect Chair Sherry Shudra. “United Way’s NC 211 service will provide consistent accessibility for all needing local services, and it’s an easy-to-remember number that’s available any time. This is a tremendous step for our community to continue responding in a trauma-informed manner with respect, care and compassion to those who need our services most.”
Funding for the 211 service for 2019 and 2020 comes via a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.
“We are so grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for their support of this project,” said United Way of Lee County Executive Director Kendra Martin. “Before coordinated entry, persons experiencing homelessness couldn’t always access appropriate resources, because there was no central place that had all that information. But now, anyone needing services will be directed to the right resources, right now. This will be a game changer for our community, providing a compassionate, reliable and consistent way for people to get the help they desperately need.”
The 211 service offers help with more than just housing needs – including issues like food, utilities, counseling, heath care, senior care, social services, and more. Visit www.nc211.org for more information.
