What is 211?
211 is a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veterans services and childcare and family services.
What Does 211 Do?
No matter the situation, the specialists at 211 listen, identify underlying problems, and connect people in need with resources and services in their community that improve their lives.
Why Does 211 Matter?
211 does more than "patch people through" to agencies. Instead, 211 specialists are trained to identify root causes of a client's problem - and connect them with a wide range of available resources that meet all the underlying needs, not just the one that prompted the call, text or email.
No other program has its "finger on the pulse" of America's greatest needs. It's a vital part of United Way's efforts to build stronger communities and fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. 211 makes the social services ecosystem/network more efficient by ensuring people in need are connected to agencies that can help.
No matter the situation, the specialists at 211 listen, identify underlying problems, and connect people in need with resources and services in their community that improve their lives.
How Can You Access 211?
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please reach out through calling, texting, chatting, or emailing.
- Dial 2-1-1 or (352) 332-4636. Calling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Text your zip code to 898-211.
- Email an operator here.
Chatting and texting are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What Do I Do If Dialing 211 Doesn't Work?
Please note that some mobile carriers may not recognize 211 as a phone number. Also, your phone will use Wi-Fi for calls and texts when cellular coverage isn't available. This means in a natural disaster or other emergency, your phone will work if connected to Wi-Fi but Wi-Fi Calling does not support 211.
- If dialing 2-1-1 does not work from your mobile device, please try (352) 332-4636.
- To find out if you're using Wi-Fi calling, Look for AT&T Wi-Fi (Apple®) or a plus sign (+) (Android®) next to the Wi-Fi icon on your phone's status bar. On Android phones, you'll also see a Wi-Fi icon on the Start call and End call buttons, and on the active call status indicator.
Contact 211 during a crisis for help with:
- Emergency shelters
- Food distribution centers
- Shelter & federal assistance
- Grief counseling
- Helping locate family members
- Clean-up crews
- Potable water, ice, food, etc.
- Elder services
- Youth and child care issues
- Emergency financial assistance
- And more!
Looking for Child Care?
Contact the Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County by emailing info@elcalachua.org or by calling (352) 375-4110 ext. 102. The Early Learning Coalition of Alachua County provides early child education information and resources. They maintain a comprehensive database on availability, quality and affordability of child care and early education in Alachua County.
How Does an Organization Qualify to be listed on 211?
Nonprofits and low-cost/sliding-scale community resources can be listed in 211. We encourage all to apply if they feel they can be of help to the community. 211 does not exclude services due to not being a nonprofit.
Login to the Agency Portal to add your agency or update an existing account.
211 is generously supported by the Florida Blue Foundation.