COVID-19 is the latest crisis and has garnered plenty of media attention with good reason. Public health emergencies are just one way that the 2-1-1 information and referral service is helping. 2-1-1 is part of a nationwide network, and in Pennsylvania, PA 2-1-1 is powered, and in large part funded by United Way of Pennsylvania and the United Way network, including the Lycoming County United Way.

PA 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service that connects Pennsylvanians to health and human service needs. While 9-1-1- is reserved for emergency services, 2-1-1 is the call to make for health, human services and disaster relief. 2-1-1 is designed to serve three major objectives:

1. Connect people in need to health and human service assistance available through government programs and private nonprofit organizations in their communities;
2. Provide assistance to communities in time of disaster, allowing 9-1-1 to work primarily with first responders; and
3. Connect volunteers and donors with organizations who can leverage these resources to meet the needs of the community.

According to Kristen Rotz, President of United Way of Pennsylvania, one of the ways PA 2-1-1 can assist is with community members that are Asset-Limited, Income Constrained and Employed, or ALICE.

“The United Way of Pennsylvania ALICE report shows us that 37 percent of Pennsylvania’s households are employed but still struggling to afford all the essentials. As we take measures necessary to protect the public health, the consequences of lost income will hit many of the very same households that already struggle at a full paycheck. These are workers in the service industry, the retail industry, and other sectors such as child care centers which will be closed. These are also small business owners and people who string together a series of gigs to earn their living. Meanwhile, other ALICE households are headed by essential workers such as direct care workers, nurses assistants and nonprofit employees who will have to continue to work their full schedule, and potentially overtime – while child care centers close making it more difficult to earn a living and assure the health and safety of their families. The impacts to ALICE households are likely to last for months after we return to our normal routines.

“PA 2-1-1 is there for everyone, including ALICE, regardless of need or income, to try to connect people in need to support in their community. 2-1-1 also helps document needs and provide data so that United Way and all of our partners know how best to provide support during an unprecedented challenge for working families across our state,” said Rotz.

If you are in need of any particular human services, please dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898211.

If you are a service provider in the area, please contact 2-1-1 to update your information on your hours, what your schedule looks like due to COVID-19 and other essential information that may be able to help those in need.

PA 211 Northeast is brought to you by Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania (FSA).

According to Gertrude C. McGowan, Esq., CEO of FSA, “Last year, over 287,000 calls were answered in Pennsylvania by this vital service. Additional aid was provided by texting 211 (898-211 and supplying a zip code) and by logging onto http://www.uwp.org/211gethelp or http://www.nepa211.org. Over 29,000 of the calls were handled by PA 211 NE it its 17 county footprint, which included the following counties: Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming. Over 38,000 needs were identified and met. The top presenting needs were housing assistance, utility assistance, food pantries, emergency shelters, crisis management and more.”

“It is important for our communities to understand the value and purpose of the 2-1-1 system,” said Ron Frick, President of Lycoming County United Way. “We are working with our local partners and United Way colleagues across the Commonwealth to provide the highest quality experience for those using the service, but we have to start by dialing 211,” said Frick.

To learn more about the PA 2-1-1 system, please visit http://www. uwp.org/211gethelp.

For more information on the Lycoming County United Way or to invest in us, visit our website at http://www.lcuw.org and click the DONATE button or text LIVE UNITED to 50155.

Supporting the Lycoming County United Way means supporting your community and enabling our organization to continue to fund the critical programs who are currently helping our partners providing emergency food and shelter. Your investment in the Lycoming County United Way helps ensure that people in communities in Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga Counties continue to have these resources available to them.

Questions regarding the Lycoming County United Way or PA 2-1-1 can be directed to Brittany Fischer, Vice President, Community Impact at 570-666-4381 or bfischer@lcuw.org.