Connecting Those in Need with Resources

Do you know about the critical role PA 211 plays in helping Pennsylvania residents connect with vital resources across the state and locally? PA 211 provides hundreds of thousands of residents with a free, confidential and 24/7 lifeline to essential social services on which they can depend.

Every day, clients contact PA 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services, and childcare and family services.

In 2024 alone, PA 211 helped almost 1.9 million Pennsylvanians. This included nearly 250,000 interactions with resource navigators via calls, texts and chats, and about 1.65 million searches using the PA 211 online database at pa211.org. The 250,000 interactions resulted in almost 705,000 referrals. The top needs in 2024 were housing, utilities and food.

In addition to calling 211, the newly redesigned website, www.pa211.org, makes it even easier for residents to search for local services by ZIP code or category, ensuring they receive accurate, timely and up-to-date information.

About Author

State Rep. Dane Watro

State representative for Pennsylvania’s 116th Legislative District, covering parts of Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.

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