Donate Now!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jamie Carter, 703-516-6778
Slumping Economy Got You in a Corner?
Dial 2-1-1 for Help!
ARLINGTON, VA (Oct. 21, 2008)--Financial pressure is mounting for families across the region as a result of the ongoing economic turmoil. Families that were just getting by 6 months ago suddenly have to face foreclosures, unemployment, and overwhelming bills. With so many more people now in need of help, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA provides a new, easy to remember 3-digit phone number available 24/7 for people looking for community resources.
2-1-1 is the nationally designated 3 digit phone number for free, confidential community Information and Referral service. Here in Northern Virginia, CrisisLink’s professional 2-1-1 Community Resource Specialists work with callers to identify their needs, and then connect them to the appropriate services using a database with information on 4,400 programs that provide:
- Food, shelter, and clothing
- Utility and rent assistance
- Employment services
- Health care
- Legal Assistance
- Financial, Credit, Budget and Home Counseling
- Mental Health services
- Prescription Assistance
- and much, much more.
Across the country, people are increasingly reaching out and dialing 2-1-1 for help with basic needs and financial assistance. “Calling 2-1-1 is an important pro-active measure residents can take to help keep difficult financial situations from going to bad to worse,” says Jamie Carter, call center director for 2-1-1 VIRGINIA in Northern Virginia. “We work with callers to identify what services are available to help.”
2-1-1 is available to all Virginia residents, as well as to those throughout most of the greater Washington, D.C. metro region. In Virginia just dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-230-6977. To find other 2-1-1 centers in Washington DC and Maryland or to search the Washington, D.C. metro region’s online database go to www.211metrodc.org.
2-1-1 VIRGINIA in Northern Virginia is provided by CrisisLink. CrisisLink saves lives and prevents tragedies, giving vital support to those facing life crises, trauma, and suicide, and provides information, education and links to community resources to empower people to help themselves. Since 1969, CrisisLink has answered more than half a million crisis calls, responded to over 25,000 potential suicides, and provided more than a quarter million referrals. Find out more at www.crisislink.org.
###