7 Reasons West Michiganders Should Use 2-1-1
Heart of West Michigan United Way helps thousands of people each year through 2-1-1
2-1-1 is West Michigan’s lifeline for help.
In a crisis, in a disaster, in a pandemic, 2-1-1 is here to help every person in our community find food, pay bills, and connect to other essential services. Our local 2-1-1 is part of a national network and assists people in 15 counties across West Michigan. In fact, 2-1-1 is a critical part of Heart of West Michigan’s fight against poverty and our work to ensure family stability, financial security, and youth education for everyone in our community.
Here are just a few reasons why you should use this vital service—and let others know about it, too.
2-1-1 connects callers to thousands of local resources and services, including:
Access to food
Childcare, elder care, and family assistance
Crisis and emergency counseling for mental health concerns, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking
Disaster assistance
Financial assistance, literacy, and coaching
Free tax prep appointments through Kent County Tax Credit Coalition
Healthcare and insurance assistance
Stable housing and utilities payment assistance
Unemployment services
Veteran services
Our 2-1-1 call specialists are amazing listeners! 2-1-1 does more than “patch people through” to agencies. Instead, a real person answers every call, a caring expert who offers comfort, hope, and solutions—from the first hello to the final connection to help.
2-1-1 is easy and convenient to use. The service is always free, confidential, and accessible 24/7/365. Simply dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-887-1107, or visit our website to see how you can use online chat, email, or text.
2-1-1 tackles problems at the roots. In fact, our 2-1-1 specialists receive training to identify and address the underlying root causes of a client’s problem—and connect them with a wide range of available resources that meet all the underlying needs, not just the one that prompted them to reach out.
2-1-11 answered 222,000 calls in West Michigan last year. The requests our local 2-1-1 receives the most are for housing assistance, help with utilities, COVID-related calls, and meeting basic needs.
2-1-1 adapts and respond to new needs, including the pandemic. Our local call center became the state of Michigan’s COVID hotline. 2-1-1 coordinated both testing and vaccine appointments, answering a total of 153,000 COVID-related calls in 2021.
2-1-1 can help you schedule your free tax prep appointment. This year, we’re scheduling appointments for 20 tax sites across our service areas in West Michigan. Sites are filling up faster than usual this year—if you qualify, make sure you call sooner rather than later!
Learn more and get help by visiting hwmuw.org/211. And share this information with as many people as possible so everyone in West Michigan knows where to turn for help.