RELEASE: February 10, 2005

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2-1-1 Hotline Serves All New Jersey
DHS Commissioner Unveils 24/7 Free Phone Line

TRENTON – Commissioner James M. Davy dialed 2-1-1 today and asked for information on New Jersey 's Earned Income Tax Credit program for low-income residents.

By pressing three simple buttons, Commissioner Davy launched the statewide hotline for social services information.

“ 2-1-1 is a single, simple, statewide phone number that all residents can use to get information on any number of social services, governmental services and community resources,” Commissioner Davy said. “ 2-1-1 can provide the ‘where-to-go' and ‘how-to-apply' for such programs as Food Stamps, NJ FamilyCare, substance abuse assistance and homeless shelters,” he said.

In 2002, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities designated the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership, a subsidiary of United Ways of New Jersey , with the task of making the national 2-1-1 information line operational throughout New Jersey .

This free, confidential service is available via landlines and cell phones throughout the state 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information is also available via TTY/TTD services and in various languages including Spanish.

“ New Jersey has a sound offering of social programs, thanks to the services provided by community organizations and local, county and state governments,” said Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald (D-Voorhees). “It is appropriate that we make this network stronger and more efficient by enabling one-stop shopping through the 2-1-1 system.”

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“Every hour of every day, people in our communities need essential services. Faced with a number of agencies and help lines, people might not know where to turn.  We were afraid that in many cases, people ended up going without these necessary and readily available services because they did not know where to start. Now they will. 2-1-1 will be a vital resource and a critical link for thousands of local people in need of assistance throughout New Jersey ,” said Tom Toronto, Co-Chair, NJ 2-1-1 Partnership and President and CEO, Bergen County 's United Way .

The program, including the United Way 's 10 Regional Call Centers, is funded through the Department of Human Services, the state's United Way organizations and corporate donations from Verizon.

For more information on 2-1-1 in New Jersey , visit www.nj211.org.

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