Nonprofits like United Way and various government agencies provide excellent programs to support people in need. The problem: The people who need these programs often don’t know they exist.

This is why United Way supports the Calling for 2-1-1 Act. The bill would create a national social service hotline, 2-1-1, to help people find organizations that can help them.

There are already 240 active 2-1-1 call centers in 46 states, but they lack the resources needed to build an adequate telecommunications infrastructure, provide appropriate staff levels and training, establish or maintain 24-hour-a-day service, ensure complete and accurate informational databases, and reach rural populations. The Calling for 2-1-1 Act would provide funding necessary to meet these needs.

While there is significant support for the bill, we need your help to ensure that legislators view passage of the bill as a priority and get it done.