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2-1-1 assistance goes beyond hurricane woes
By DANA GUTHRIE
Several weeks before hurricane season starts, county and city officials begin to urge residents in need to call 2-1-1 for evacuation assistance.
But residents may not realize that 2-1-1, the United Way Helpline, can assist with numerous other community needs and, in fact, evacuation transportation does not even make the top five needs identified by callers.
United Way of Greater Houston urges the public to call 2-1-1 year-round for assistance with critical needs, said Ed Davis, director of media and public relations.
The helpline took more than 567,000 calls in 2007, and the top five needs were
Food
Medical or prescription help
Utility assistance
Rent or mortgage assistance, and
Basic shelter.
From Sept. 1 to Oct. 15, 2008, the helpline took 94,000 calls, and the top calls for help fell in the categories of
Food
Evacuation transportation
Utility assistance
Rent or mortgage assistance, and
FEMA assistance.
According to a post-Ike survey of 2,604 people in 24 sites across Houston, a majority of participants had their jobs interrupted by the hurricane. Of those, 61 percent were out of work because their business was unable to operate.
Seventeen percent of those interviewed lost their jobs, and participants said they were in need of food, financial aid, housing, health care, job placement and transportation.
A random telephone survey of 1,500 people conducted in June 2008 revealed that many residents were concerned about crime, substance abuse, delinquency and lack of value development, according to United Way documents.
The top individual concerns were
Stress or anxiety
Grocery money, with 40 percent of Houstonians worried about paying for groceries. Of those, 59 percent reported having trouble at least once per month.
Health care
Substance abuse among family members or friends.
88 percent of Houstonians said they are worried about national economy.
74 percent are worried about family finances.
Seasonally, the specialists who man the 2-1-1 helpline can direct callers to a number of community-wide agencies or organizations for assistance.
Social service needs such as utilities, food, medical, shelter or rental assistance are provided year-round.
From January until April, the United Way offers a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at several sites across the Houston area.
The service is free to families who earn less than $45,000 per year, although Houston families who use the program average $18,000 per year.
The program helps taxpayers file for Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Commercial tax preparers typically charge higher rates to assist with these claims, Davis said.
During the 2009 tax season, Neighborhood Tax Centers will prepare 15,000 returns for working families, and the program is in need of 500 volunteers to assist with the program. Bilingual volunteers are needed to assist the 20 percent of clients who only speak Spanish.
No professional tax preparation experience is necessary, and volunteers will receive 10 hours of training and will become certified as IRS volunteer tax preparers.
To sign up, call 713-669-5381, e-mail taxes@neighborhood-centers.org or visit www.neighborhood-centers.org.
Other 2-1-1 programs
Summer (May-August)
The Summer Food Program connects callers with locations that offer free lunch to children and youth at participating neighborhood locations.
Fall (June-September)
The Back to School program, provides information and referral to sites for Operation School Supplies and free or reduced-cost immunizations for qualifying families.
Holidays (November-December)
Links callers to agencies and organizations that adopt families for toy distribution and provide meals or baskets to needy families.
Hurricane season (June-November)
Registers individuals with special needs or disabilities, and those who have no other means of transportation, for evacuation assistance. Disaster response assistance continues year-round.
Year-round
The 2-1-1 helpline provides information and referral for social service needs all year long, 24 hours a day, with interpreter services in 150 languages.
In addition, the Care for Elders program provides information and referral services to senior citizens aged 60 and older in Harris County, with access to benefits counseling and case management.
But residents may not realize that 2-1-1, the United Way Helpline, can assist with numerous other community needs and, in fact, evacuation transportation does not even make the top five needs identified by callers.
United Way of Greater Houston urges the public to call 2-1-1 year-round for assistance with critical needs, said Ed Davis, director of media and public relations.
The helpline took more than 567,000 calls in 2007, and the top five needs were
Food
Medical or prescription help
Utility assistance
Rent or mortgage assistance, and
Basic shelter.
From Sept. 1 to Oct. 15, 2008, the helpline took 94,000 calls, and the top calls for help fell in the categories of
Food
Evacuation transportation
Utility assistance
Rent or mortgage assistance, and
FEMA assistance.
According to a post-Ike survey of 2,604 people in 24 sites across Houston, a majority of participants had their jobs interrupted by the hurricane. Of those, 61 percent were out of work because their business was unable to operate.
Seventeen percent of those interviewed lost their jobs, and participants said they were in need of food, financial aid, housing, health care, job placement and transportation.
A random telephone survey of 1,500 people conducted in June 2008 revealed that many residents were concerned about crime, substance abuse, delinquency and lack of value development, according to United Way documents.
The top individual concerns were
Stress or anxiety
Grocery money, with 40 percent of Houstonians worried about paying for groceries. Of those, 59 percent reported having trouble at least once per month.
Health care
Substance abuse among family members or friends.
88 percent of Houstonians said they are worried about national economy.
74 percent are worried about family finances.
Seasonally, the specialists who man the 2-1-1 helpline can direct callers to a number of community-wide agencies or organizations for assistance.
Social service needs such as utilities, food, medical, shelter or rental assistance are provided year-round.
From January until April, the United Way offers a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program at several sites across the Houston area.
The service is free to families who earn less than $45,000 per year, although Houston families who use the program average $18,000 per year.
The program helps taxpayers file for Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Commercial tax preparers typically charge higher rates to assist with these claims, Davis said.
During the 2009 tax season, Neighborhood Tax Centers will prepare 15,000 returns for working families, and the program is in need of 500 volunteers to assist with the program. Bilingual volunteers are needed to assist the 20 percent of clients who only speak Spanish.
No professional tax preparation experience is necessary, and volunteers will receive 10 hours of training and will become certified as IRS volunteer tax preparers.
To sign up, call 713-669-5381, e-mail taxes@neighborhood-centers.org or visit www.neighborhood-centers.org.
Other 2-1-1 programs
Summer (May-August)
The Summer Food Program connects callers with locations that offer free lunch to children and youth at participating neighborhood locations.
Fall (June-September)
The Back to School program, provides information and referral to sites for Operation School Supplies and free or reduced-cost immunizations for qualifying families.
Holidays (November-December)
Links callers to agencies and organizations that adopt families for toy distribution and provide meals or baskets to needy families.
Hurricane season (June-November)
Registers individuals with special needs or disabilities, and those who have no other means of transportation, for evacuation assistance. Disaster response assistance continues year-round.
Year-round
The 2-1-1 helpline provides information and referral for social service needs all year long, 24 hours a day, with interpreter services in 150 languages.
In addition, the Care for Elders program provides information and referral services to senior citizens aged 60 and older in Harris County, with access to benefits counseling and case management.
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