News | Call 211 for Resources on Economy, Family Troubles |
|
The midlands may be insulated a bit from the current economic downturn, but United Way and its partners are serving many who feel the effects of the crisis in the Omaha-Council Bluffs-Bellevue metro area. A call to 2-1-1 can point you in the direction of local helping programs, including those focused on troubled families, too.
Calls to the 2-1-1 Center, on a variety of topics, are up more than 20% for the first nine months of 2008 when compared to last year. For assistance with immediate economic needs, the 2-1-1 call specialists are providing referrals to locally available programs in these areas: • Food – meal and food pantry referrals• Shelter – for the homeless and victims of domestic violence • Utility and Rent/Mortgage – referrals to specific assistance programs that best fit the need • Foreclosure Prevention – referrals to reliable nonprofit and low-cost foreclosure counseling • Credit counseling – referrals to reliable nonprofit and low-cost services that offer advice on credit debt • Crisis counseling – to help individuals and families maintain their mental and emotional health • Job training/job placement/resume building • Community and public assistance programs – specialists can screen for program qualifications United Way recently submitted an opinion essay on 2-1-1 for publication. ***In the wake of the Safe Haven situation in Nebraska, media outlets and the State of Nebraska are suggesting families call 2-1-1 early-on, to find out about local services that might help them repair and strengthen relationships in their households before they reach a point of desperation. The 2-1-1 specialists who answer calls look for the specific services that meet each family’s unique needs. But here are some examples of Omaha-area programs that families might hear about, depending on their situation: Crisis Shelters The Omaha 2-1-1 call center, hosted by United Way, is an information and referral service – a portal to our community’s human service programs. 1.3 million Nebraskans and the people in eight southwest Iowa counties can dial 2-1-1 to get answers about local programs. (Callers may also dial 402-444-6666 if their cell phone/company pbx system/pay phone won’t permit the calls to 3-digit phone numbers.)
To better prepare people for the future, United Way of the Midlands donors directly support dozens of local programs that guide people toward their goal of financial independence. These programs, operated through United Way of the Midlands’ affiliated agencies and by special United Way impact initiatives, are available across Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. They include: • Financial Education Classes United Way of the Midlands celebrates 85 years of service in 2008 by mobilizing the caring power of people who live and work in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties. # # # 2-1-1 PARTNERS: FINANCIAL STABILITY PARTNERSHIP™ PARTNERS:
|
