2-1-1 SLO County

Since January 2010, United Way has made available 2-1-1 SLO County, a free program that is a one-stop way to get timely access to health and human services information and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phone line is free, confidential, and provides bilingual assistance. Over 15,000 calls have been placed to 2-1-1 in the past two years and it is a necessary service that connects our community to nearly 600 local, low-cost and no-cost programs. In the event of a disaster, 2-1-1 is also a resource for local information and disaster-related programs.

San Luis Obispo County has a long history of providing 24-hour referral and support services to those in need. Incorporated in 1970, Hotline of San Luis Obispo County recruited and trained volunteers to answer information, referral, crisis and support calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
 
In 1998 the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), United Way of America, United Way 2-1-1 (Atlanta, GA), United Way of Connecticut, Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services, Inc. and Texas Information and Referral Network filed a petition for nationwide assignment of an abbreviated dialing code for access to community information and referral services; two years later the Federal Communications Commission, in a unanimous decision, concluded that “assigning an N11 code for such purposes is in the national interest.” Since that time, communities and states across the country have been implementing 2-1-1 systems into their infrastructure, allowing them to connect residents with important health and human service resources, as well as provide disaster-related information in times of natural or man-made disasters.
 
In SLO County, Hotline implemented 2-1-1 in 2007. Unfortunately, due to limited funding streams, Hotline was forced to close its doors in 2009. To preserve these important services, United Way of San Luis Obispo County and Transitions-Mental Health Association stepped in; today, information and referral calls are still answered by knowledgeable, bilingual call specialists, and Transitions provides more in-depth crisis and support counseling when callers have immediate mental health needs. The mental health hotline phone number is 1-800-549-4499.
 
2-1-1 services in SLO County would not be possible, however, without tremendous support from the community; we would like to thank the following organizations for their contributions.

2-1-1 SLO County has also partnered with the local website EndGangViolence.org. This resource is available for youth, parents, and community members who are interested in gang prevention and intervention.

For additional information about 2-1-1 SLO County, please contact the United Way office at (805) 541-1234 or email 211@unitedwayslo.org; click on the links to download an 11x17” poster or 8.5x11” flier. To get help, dial 2-1-1 to speak to a call specialist.

Click below for additional information about statewide and national 2-1-1 programs:

• 2-1-1 California
• National 2-1-1
• Nationwide 2-1-1 Call Centers

For Agencies:

Resource updates to the 2-1-1 database are made on an as discovered or requested basis. Agency representatives who wish to modify their public listings should call the United Way office at (805) 541-1234. Data must be formatted according to the 2-1-1 iCarol Style Guide.