Most everyone knows to call 9-1-1 in an emergency and they will be helped with dispatched police, fire or medical responders if necessary.

But did you know there is another three digit number to call in non-emergency situations that is a free and confidential service that helps people find the local resources they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

It's 2-1-1.

Every day people across our community turn to 2-1-1 for information and support - whether financial, health or other challenges, often for the first time. It's a confidential referral and information helpline, website and app that connects people of all ages to the essential health and human services they need.

The caller is connected to a resource specialist who can put them in touch with organizations that provide critical services that can improve - and save - lives.

• Need to find childcare for your baby? Call 2-1-1
  
  
• Need help with utilities or rent payments? Call 2-1-1
  
  
• Facing foreclosure? Call 2-1-1
  
  
• Want help with your taxes? Call 2-1-1
  
  
• Don't have adequate food, clothing or shelter for you or someone you know? Call 2-1-1
  
  
• Looking for job training services? Call 2-1-1

And thanks to our new partnership with The Center for Women and Families, this service has recently been expanded to create positive results for families and individuals in our community every single day. Information specialists field calls to connect people with a network of over 900 service providers - agencies, organizations and government offices - who can help with their specific needs. The Center for Women and Families offers services to all survivors of intimate partner abuse or sexual violence, including provision of a variety of residential and nonresidential services including emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling and advocacy. 2-1-1 also supports growing community needs such as educational initiatives (Louisville Linked, Destination Degrees and JCPS summer programs) and infant care (Healthy Babies Louisville.)

The first step to finding help is knowing who to call. Get connected with Metro United Way's 2-1-1 help when you download the app, visit our website: metrounitedway.org/211 and new in 2017 - you can now text your zip code to 898211 to be connected to resources around you.

Over 500,000 individuals in our community have used 2-1-1 in the past 10 years since we launched this service! Please tweet this to share about this great resource with others. After all, every solution starts somewhere!