PA 211 is still here, from hello to help, as pandemic-driven needs persist in the Laurel Highlands

 2/1/21 - Johnstown, PA – On Feb. 11, PA 211 Day, United Way of the Laurel Highlands joins United Way of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania 211 network to celebrate how PA 211 has supported our community during the pandemic, and to re-commit to being one phone call, text message or web search away for our neighbors as our community builds back from the pandemic.  
 
 
211 is the free, confidential, 24/7/365 service that connects Pennsylvanians with all the health and human services in their area that are available to help. PA 211 also offers individuals the ability to search for assistance at www.pa211.org. 
 
“PA 211 helped meet critical human needs—food security, shelter, heating, utilities and health care across our region. PA 211 partnered with county government to connect people to factual information about COVID-19. The network helped connect families struggling from loss of work to financial assistance,” said Karen Struble Myers, President and CEO of the United Way of the Laurel Highlands. “We are grateful to be able to offer this service to residents of Somerset and Cambria Counties through strong community partnerships.
 
PA 211’s dedicated contact center staff shifted to remote operations, and continued to provide trained, empathetic resource navigators. PA 211 provided its statewide resource database as a backbone to deliver up-to-the minute information about available local services and volunteer opportunities. 
 
As a result of being at the center of locally-driven pandemic response across the state, PA 211 has the best real-time data on needs of individuals in the Commonwealth. PA 211 Counts (https://pa.211counts.org) is a dashboard to understand these needs in counties, legislative districts, and regions.
PA 211 has a steadfast commitment to connect people in need to resources that are available. This includes helping communities maximize the recently-passed federal stimulus support for housing and utility assistance. 
 
In December, the 211 Network: 
 
In Somerset County, assisted 26 more people over prior year, mainly people who needed electric service assistance. The 39 calls were up 28 from prior month. 
In Cambria County, call volume was up 86 people from prior year in December. Most of the 116 callers needed help finding a food pantry and with rental assistance. 
 
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