Community Identified Priorities
Polls
211 - How May I Help You?
211 is an easy to remember phone number providing free, confidential, multi-lingual information for non-emergency community, health, social, health and related government services.
Every hour of every day, someone in Sault Ste. Marie is looking for services - from finding an after-school program, to securing care for an aging parent. In many cases, people go without services because they don’t know where to find them. 211 connects people with the services they need in their community with one phone call.
211 is staffed by trained Information Referral Specialists, who will answer the call and listen to your story; a live voice with no menus. The Information Referral Specialist will then search the database and direct the caller to the right services within their community.
The types of inquiries that 211 Information and Referral Specialist receive are…
“I just turned 60 and I want to find out about getting my Canada Pension…”
“I need home care but I don’t know who to call.”
“I just got here last night and I need to find somewhere to stay while I look for a job.”
“I am facing eviction and I don’t know where to turn for help.”
“My wallet was stolen, what should I do?” “My teenager might be on drugs, can someone help me?”
“I am a single mom, and have no money for diapers and milk what should I do?”
“My baby is sick. Is there a walk in clinic nearby I can take her?
Dial 2-1-1 TTY 1-888-622-4651
211 is there to help – 24 hours a day – seven days a week – 365 days a year
Information on services, organizations, and agencies available within the Ontario can also be accessed online by searching at http://www.211ontarionorth.ca
Background - September 28th – A local data collaborative including the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario WorkInfonet, Superior Children’s Centre / Algoma Manitoulin Early Years, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library provided the foundation for the local database; the local database is maintained by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre with funding from the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie. The local telephone service is financially supported by the Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services Administration Board and is provided in partnership with 211 Ontario North, a program of the Lakehead Social Planning Council in Thunder Bay. 211 North launched in Thunder Bay in 2008 and expansion of this service to Sault Ste. Marie is a critical first step in the expansion of the service throughout Northern Ontario.
