A Guide to Contacting the 211 Helpline

On average the 211 Helpline can receive over 273 phone calls a day. With this many phone calls, the 211 Team wants to make sure they are serving as many community members as possible and efficiently as they can. This 211 day we wanted to share some helpful tips users should know about contacting 211 to make sure they have the best experience.

Below provides some guidance on what may be asked or what may be needed when you contact 211. Please note, if you don’t have any of this information, you can still reach out to 211.

1.) How to Contact 211

Call 2-1-1
Text your zipcode to 898211
Visit ne211.org
Download the 211 Nebraska/SW Iowa App available on Apple and Android App stores

Get Assistance 24/7

2.) Needed Information

For our Community Resource Specialists to connect you with the right services, they will need your zip code. Additional information such as name, address and age may be required as well. This information allows 211 Community Resource Specialists to connect you with the best program for your situation.

3.) Social Security Number

If you are applying for financial assistance, please have your social security number on hand. For your application, they may also ask you for additional personal information.

4.) 211 Will Follow Up

Depending on the situation, 211 will follow up with some callers to ensure they received the help they needed. This only applies to some situations.

5.) Please Be Patient

When applying for assistance like financial aid, please be patient. Sometimes these requests take a long time due to the high volume of requests, especially during the pandemic.

5.) Give Us Your Feedback

The 211 team encourages any caller whose recommended services didn’t work for them to call 211 back. The 211 team is determined to connect you with a service that best fits your situation. They will work with you until a solution is reached. And if you have a new situation arise, give 211 a call! 211 has over 13,000 + programs and services across NE and IA. This range of resources allows our specialists to connect users with a wide variety of resources depending on all sorts of situations.

211 is for everyone.

No matter how big or small the issue is, 211 is there to support you. By calling 211, texting your zip code to 898211, or using the app, you can learn more about local services and funding that can help you get back on your feet. 211 Helpline specialists help our community find:

Addictions
Clothing & Household
Courts & Crime
Education
Family
Financial Assistance
Food
Government
Health
Hotlines
Housing
Income & Employment
Legal & Customer
Mental Health
Senior & Disability
Transportation
Utilities
Veteran/Miliary
and more.

Get in touch today

Call: 211 or (402)444-6666

Text: Your zip code to 898211

Download the 211 Nebraska/SW Iowa App on: Android or Apple

Visit the 211 webpage for more

Here’s how YOU can support 211.

1. Donate what you can through the form below. Proceeds will support 211 to connect more people in need to resources that can help.

2. Share a social media post about the helpline. Feel free to share one from one of our profiles:

About the Author

Emily is the Marketing Coordinator at United Way of the Midlands. She helps the team with all aspects of marketing projects. Emily finds it incredibly rewarding to be able to support our community through storytelling. Emily enjoys reading a good book, podcasts, and volunteering.