Some of the suggested uses for the 211 help line include heating fuel assistance, elder abuse intervention, crisis counseling, free medical care, volunteer opportunities, free legal service, emergency food supplies, educational assistance, and many more. All of those services are available now, each with its own telephone number. But you must know who provides the service to get the number. That's not as easy as it sounds. That is overwhelming support.
Ignorance is the greatest barrier that citizens face in accessing government and community services.
It would be a public-private partnership between the Council of Massachusetts United Ways, the Massachusetts Association of Information and Referral Service and the state. Legislators should pass the legislation and urge the governor to sign it. Four other states that use such numbers, including Connecticut, have reported significant increases in the number of people seeking help for a variety of problems, including drug and alcohol addictions. In all, there are 42 states considering such numbers. Some taxpayers may be reluctant to foot the bill, even at this minimal cost, for what they may view as an unnecessary expense.