Focus on Basic Urgent Needs

Creating lasting change calls for strategic approaches to responding to health and human services needs. In addition to investments through competitive grants, United Way is funding strategic initiatives that focus on basic needs, capacity-building, and diversity, as well as technical assistance for area nonprofits.

Two key initiatives – 211Info and the Community Relief Fund – combine to help people access the local resources to urgently address the basic needs of families and individuals hit hardest by the economic crisis.

211Info is Oregon and Southwest Washington’s comprehensive support hub for 2-1-1: a social services helpline. Each year, 211Info helps more than 100,000 people by providing referrals to food, shelter, financial assistance, health care and other health and human services throughout the four-county region.

Since the economy started its downhill slide in late 2007, calls to 211 have increased significantly, particularly calls related to rent and utilities assistance, and accessing food stamps or emergency food boxes.

To stay a step ahead of the long-term impacts of the prolonged recession on our community, United Way underscores its commitment to support community safety net services through the Community Relief Fund. The fund provides families with rent, food, and utility assistance, through partnerships with Community Action Programs in all four counties.

A total of $800,000 has been distributed to the community. The average amount of assistance with utilities was $278, while average rent assistance to each household was $800. Local families and individuals have accessed over 220,000 pounds of food.

United Way has raised some $1.8 million to boost the fund. Additional distributions to community partners will be scheduled throughout the next year.

The Community Relief Fund started out in early 2009 as a four-month campaign to help people stay in their homes, pay for utility bills and access emergency food. It is now incorporated into United Way’s Annual Community Campaign.