United Way 211 serves a 23-county region surrounding Kansas City. Callers from the urban core account for the largest percentage of contacts from individuals calling 211 or reaching out for support at 211KC.org. In 2024, contacts from Jackson County, Mo. accounted for nearly 70-percent of total volume with 59,801.
Below are three calls United Way’s Community Resource Navigators responded to, from Jackson Co. residents in the month of March.
A 63-year-old Kansas City, Mo. senior citizen working part-time and receiving Social Security reached out needing help with her utilities. With the long winter, she was struggling to pay an overdue balance to her gas provider and had recently received a disconnection notice. When she called 211, she shared she had not reached out for emergency assistance for gas before, so the navigator explained the process to her. By utilizing the 211 database, referrals could be shared along with instructions and documentation to apply for various assistance programs. The navigator located three referrals for the senior, and provided phone numbers for each agency. The caller shared her appreciation for the list of resources and appreciated how the navigator took time to clearly explain next steps in receiving help.
A young, pregnant mother in Kansas City, Mo. called 211 looking for shelter/housing assistance. She, her partner and her young child were currently homeless and struggling to find an available shelter. She recently found a part-time job that would be starting in a few days. But the period of unemployment was part of a series of events that left the young family struggling to make ends meet. The Community Resource Navigator was able to find additional shelter referrals, including a maternity home, as well as explore other programs like transitional housing. The navigator provided essential information for each housing service, including eligibility requirements for each program and a detailed explanation of the different types of service available to the young mother and family.
A Kansas City, Mo. retired 67-year-old woman dialed 211 needing help with her gas and electricity bills. The Community Resource Navigator was able to give her several resource referrals. When 211 reached out through a courtesy follow-up, the woman shared she is on a waitlist for some of the agencies to receive assistance and she was able to get help from Bishop Sullivan Center for her water. In addition, she received confirmation from LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) on a pledge for her power and gas bills. The caller shared her relief and appreciation saying, “It’s truly a blessing to still have my water on. Thank you all so much!”
Should you or someone you know need assistance and don’t know where to turn, 211 is here for our entire community. Simply dial 211 by phone or visit 211KC.org. The service is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Language interpretation is available in 150+ languages.