United Way Announces 2-1-1 Help Line To Better Serve Homeless

CHARLOTTE, NC– Homeless service providers, the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and United Way of Central Carolinas have announced a more efficient way to serve the homeless.

United Way’s NC 2-1-1, is a hotline which provides health and human services information and referrals to the homeless.

The initiative will improve screening, diversion, and referrals for homeless individuals and families, or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Those needing assistance will now be able to get help more quickly by dialing 2-1-1, rather than calling various agencies for information or waiting at one of the three Charlotte-Mecklenburg Coordinated Entry locations.

Available 24/7/365 and fluent in multiple languages, NC 2-1-1’s trained call specialists will facilitate a telephone assessment then direct the caller to available homeless shelter, housing assistance or other community resources.

For those callers who have other needs, NC 2-1-1 will also provide additional resources that help them without adding to the shelter backlog.

“Our goal is to provide families in need with immediate support, rather than have them wait in a long line for services they may or may not qualify for,” said Sean Garrett, United Way’s executive director. “NC 2-1-1 is immediate, efficient and will provide us real-time data regarding the needs of callers, which will help us better prioritize our community resources.”

For more information on 2-1-1 help line click HERE