Congressman Michael Bilirakis Congressman Michael Bilirakis.  Proudly representing the people of the 9th Congressional District of Florida
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Connecting People with Community Services

November 7, 2005
 
Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services - from finding an after-school program to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help-lines, people don’t often know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without necessary services because they do not know where to start. It doesn’t have to be that way.

2-1-1 is the three-digit telephone number designated by the Federal Communications Commission in 2000 as "an easy-to-remember and universally-recognizable number" to connect people with human and social services. Today, 2-1-1 reaches more than 100 million Americans – approximately 34 percent of the U.S. population –with call centers operational in 27 states, including Florida.

In addition to assisting in the coordination of local communities, the vital role that 2-1-1 can play in times of crisis cannot be overstated. In New York City alone, after September 11, an estimated 400 hotlines were established for the various funds and services, creating a confusing network for victims and volunteers to navigate. One easy to remember phone number to assess individual and family needs and connect them with necessary resources would eliminate the confusion.

In the Tri-State area following the attacks of 9/11, and in Florida following the 2004 hurricanes, areas served by 2-1-1 responded measurably faster and more efficiently than areas without 2-1-1. This is proving to be true again in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and to her evacuees who have been scattered across the United States. 2-1-1 has proven itself as a vital crisis preparedness and response tool.

In order to help more Americans have access to this important service, I have introduced H.R. 896, the Calling for 2-1-1 Act, which would support states through dedicated funding and build on the ongoing efforts to make it easier to connect people with community services and volunteer opportunities through the nationwide implementation of 2-1-1. The goal of the Calling for 2-1-1 Act is to ensure that 100 percent of the U.S. population has access to quality community information and referral services through 2-1-1.

My bill authorizes funding that would help implement and sustain 2-1-1 nationwide through a program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). States would designate, if they have not already done so, a lead entity for 2-1-1 which would develop a statewide plan for implementation and administration of the funds. States would be required to provide a 50% match in order to draw down the federal funds.

The nationwide implementation of 2-1-1 would prove to be a cost efficient and beneficial opportunity for the federal government, states, counties, businesses and citizens. The University of Texas developed a national cost-benefit analysis that found there would be a savings to society of more than $1.1 billion over ten years if 2-1-1 were operational nationwide.

The most critical barrier for communities seeking to implement 2-1-1 is sustainable funding. Current funding where 2-1-1 is operational comes from diverse sources including non-profits, state governments, foundations, and businesses. The federal funding would augment, not replace, these funding streams and would help sustain the efforts. In many states, limited resources have slowed the process of connecting communities with this vital service. Without adequate federal support, 2-1-1 will not reach a nationwide population for decades. The enactment of my bill, H.R. 896, would expand the essential role that the 2-1-1 service can play as a crisis preparedness and response tool.

   
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