Trident United Way unveils 211 Helpline texting option
February 16, 2022
Trident United Celebrates February 11 as 211 Day, to raise awareness for the Helpline. Today we announce a new texting option that puts users in control of finding resources in a free, immediate and confidential way that is available 24/7.
From anywhere in the Tri-County, all a user has to do is text 211211 and just one word will direct them to resources they need. The three keywords are food, home and electric.
The system will automatically respond to ask a zip code. From there, a user will get instant links for assistance. It’s that easy! The 211 Helpline is now available in several formats: Text – 211211
Phone – dial 211
Website – sc.211.org
211 App (Apple Store & Google Play Store)
Click below for downloadable soundbites from:
John-Mark Bell / VP of operations & 211 Services, United Way of SC
https://www.dropbox.com/s/53l7vpg4gi7nnl2/John%20Mark%20Bell.mp4?dl=0
Calls from Tri-County residents to the helpline remained steady: more than 13,000 calls per year or more than 1,000 calls a month on average. Below are the largest increases 211 had in 2021.
Trident United Way Tri-County 211 Helpline request increases in 2021 vs 2020:
- Landlord/tenant assistance + 206%
- Public housing requests + 204%
- Homeless motel vouchers +148%
- Mortgage assistance + 37%
“I do think with the pandemic, for housing this is the biggest crisis we have seen to date, at least during my time and tenure at Trident United Way and during my lifetime,” said Amanda Lawrence, Trident United Way VP of Community Impact. “Everyone is being impacted by the pandemic and the strains it’s putting on the economy, on our daily work lives, our mental health and everything we do it has impacted us.”
A report by Redfin shows, Charleston home prices shot up 24.5% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $465,000. Rents also went up a staggering 21% in 2021, according to Apartment List.
Click below for a detailed 211 Helpline report that breaks down Tri-County needs and has customizable data points.
