Community Resources Available Online to Help Those in Need
Linn County Community Services and United Way of East Central Iowa announce two ways for the public to access community resources that are available to assist those in need:
Those options are newly updated Linn County community resource sheets and United Way 2-1-1 (FirstCallforHelpIowa.org).
The community resource sheets can be accessed on Linn County’s website at www.linncounty.org/LCCS. The resource sheets are updated annually and provide a starting point to help individuals and families attain the assistance they need to stabilize their situations and ultimately become more self-sufficient.
The resource sheets include the 18 different resource categories listed below:
1) Affordable Housing Resources 10) Financial Resources
2) Basic Needs Resources 11) Food Assistance Resources
3) Child Care Resources 12) Health Resources
4) Counseling & Therapy Resources 13) Legal Assistance Resources
5) Disability Resources 14) Older Adults Resources
6) Education Resources 15) Parent Education Resources
7) Emergency Shelter Resources 16) Sexual Health Resources
8) Employment Resources 17) Transitional Housing Resources
9) Family & Youth Resources 18) Transportation Resources
Many of the programs and services listed have eligibility guidelines or criteria. Anyone using the resource sheets is encouraged to read the service description before contacting the organization to help avoid frustration.
“While every effort has been made to make the resource sheets as accurate and inclusive as possible, we all know that things change. So we highly encourage clients to call before physically going to any of the locations listed to assure that they are currently operating from that address,” said Ann Hearn, deputy director of community planning.
A second option is United Way of East Central Iowa’s 2-1-1 service that is available to help people with basic needs. A new and improved United Way 2-1-1 web site is also now online. The site features all the resources of the 2-1-1 call center. People still have the option of calling 2-1-1 (319-739-4211 from pay phone or cell phone and 866-469-2211 toll-free), but now can also search the web site at www.FirstCallforHelpIowa.org from a computer, mobile device or iPad.
Here are some features of the 2-1-1 web site:
New database. An up-to-date database with over 840 agencies and resources – the same as the 2-1-1 center.
Easy search. Search by keyword or browse by topic.
Save your search. If you need to come back to your search, you can easily save the search
What kind of answers can be found on the site?
Basic human needs
Physical and mental health
Employment support
Assistance for older adults and persons with disabilities
Support for children and families
Emergency/crisis assistance
“The 2-1-1 call-in service has been in demand with more than 50,000 calls per year,” said Chris Juett, United Way 2-1-1 program manager. “But we know that people search online for information, too. To make our data available was the next logical step for us.”
