Thanks to the United Way of Lancaster County, 211 services are available in Berks County.
What is 211?
211 is a free, confidential, and comprehensive informational/referential service for individuals looking for a broad range of health and human services. Dial 211, text your zip code to 898211, or live chat or search at pa211east.org to find information on a broad range of services.
The services 211 can help you locate and navigate include:
- Housing Support: access payment assistance, eviction and other landlord/tenant issues, emergency shelter and subsidized housing
- Utility Assistance: includes mediation assistance and help with water, gas, fuel, phone and electric bills
- Family Resources: find childcare, online learning resources, camps, child development and emergency family support
- Food Security: locate local food pantries, home delivered meals, sit down meals, assistance programs and pet care
- Elder care: includes in-home assistance, health and nutrition, caretaker support and transportation
- Health Services: includes physical, mental and dental health, medical transportation, vaccines and insurance
- After-school programs for at-risk children
Please note: 211 is not an emergency services provider. If your needs are emergent, call 911.
Who is 211 PA East?
211 PA East is a program of United Way of Lancaster County whose 211 services extend to all of Berks County. When Berks residents dial 211, they connect with professionally trained resource navigators, who will gain knowledge of the caller’s needs, identify solutions, and connect the caller with local services they require. Help is available in multiple languages and is completely confidential.
Why does Berks County need 211?
Here are the facts: many Berks County households require assistance accessing basic human needs. For many reasons, that existing need is growing in Berks County. While many of our community members can identify first responders who assist with emergencies, many individuals don’t know where to turn when faced with limited access to basic human needs. Now, Berks County residents can dial 211.
Dialing 211 also keeps our communities safer and healthier. When first responders react to non-emergent calls, they are unable to meet community needs as intended. By calling 211 for social service assistance, our 911 emergency dispatch system does not get overwhelmed with non-emergent calls.
211 PA East was made possible, in part, by the Home Health Care Foundation Permanent Fund of Berks County Community Foundation. If you’re passionate about improving the health and quality of life for Berks County residents, consider donating to the fund.
