What is NC 211?
NC 211 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina and funded locally by Lumber River United Way. Accessible via an easy-to-remember, three-digit number, families, and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources within their community.
When Can I Call 211?
211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Dialing 211 is free, confidential, and available in most languages.
Is 211 available in Spanish?
NC 211 has Spanish language call specialists on staff and also utilizes professional language interpretation services to assist callers in over 170 languages.
How is dialing 211 different from 411?
When you dial 211 you will be connected to a trained call specialist, not an automated service. You don't need to know the name of the organization you’re trying to reach, only what type of service you need. NC 211 call specialists have access to a robust database of resources and will have a conversation with you to find the best resources available to meet your unique need. Call specialists also provide descriptions of the services available, eligibility requirements, and intake information for each referral they make when it's available.
What Information is Available?
NC 211 maintains a robust database with information on thousands of programs and services in North Carolina. We refer callers to organizations in their local community best equipped to address their specific health and human services needs including food, shelter, energy assistance, housing, parenting resources, healthcare, substance abuse, as well as specific resources for older adults and for persons with disabilities, and much more.
When an individual calls NC 211, a trained call specialist will conduct a search based on his or her geographic location to identify resources based on the caller's current needs. In addition to contact information for the community resource, the call specialist will provide eligibility requirements, the intake process for a program, the hours of operation, any requirements for appointments, and accessibility information, when available.
