United Way of Bruce Grey Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn explains 2-1-1 is for human services information what 9-1-1 is for emergencies.
Dobbyn explains whenever you have a community based question – call 2-1-1.
The service will put you in touch with the people, agencies, and organizations you need.
Dobbyn says the system covers everything from health to housing needs and financial to legal help.
Dobbyn says the system is needed because endless referrals are just what people don’t need during crisis.
2-1-1 is a one stop information shop and eliminates the need for time consuming calls people typically make all over the place trying to figure out who they should be talking to and where they need to go for help.
Dobbyn says plans to start up the service in Grey Bruce have been in the works for 4 years and it’s already proven successful in Simcoe County.
She says they built the skeleton of the system by putting together the Information Bruce Grey database, but until now they didn’t have the money to go online with the telephone system.
The United Way has put over 100-thousand dollars into the project.
Dobbyn tells Bayshore Broadcasting she was expecting the number to be put into service in our area today (WED), but tried it last night and it was already working.
You can also access the service online at www.211ontario.ca.
