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211 SLO Hotline

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About Us

Hotline's History

Hotline has served our community since 1970 and remains the only service of its kind in the County. In that time the agency has grown from limited infrastructure, staffing and scope of service to a comprehensive, 24-hour operation and Hotline volunteers have responded to over 800,000 contacts from our families, friends and neighbors.

What we do

Hotline is San Luis Obispo County's only comprehensive information, referral, support and crisis intervention service available free of charge, 24 hours every day. Our confidential telephone services allow callers to remain anonymous while receiving assistance in crisis situations, as well as answering non-emergency questions about local health and social service resources.

Hotline also serves as the after-hours contact for two women's shelters, the homeless shelter, and many private therapists. It is a valuable resource for government and social service agencies.

We maintain the only comprehensive database of county-wide information on human service agencies and support groups, and annually distribute printed copies of our Human Services Directory to businesses, schools, health and human service agencies, as well as government agencies.

About 211

211 is an easy to remember phone number linking callers in need to available health and human service programs. 211 also offers social service providers help for their clients, and gives organizations who are dedicated to providing help a way to enhance their impact and maximize their resources.

In July 2000 the Federal Communications Commission assigned the three-digit dialing code 211 for the exclusive purpose of providing widespread access to community information and referral services. Currently, there are 209 active systems operating in all or part of 41 states, reaching roughly 192 million Americans, or approximately 65 percent of the US population.

While 211 is an expeditious way to access community information and referral, it also offers County departments and nonprofit social service providers help for their clients, and gives organizations who are dedicated to providing help a way to enhance their impact and maximize their resources. 211 is a groundbreaking, efficient solution that eliminates the confusing and often overwhelming maze of information and services for people who need help.

In a disaster, 211 plays a unique and critical role. Able to easily expand or transfer out of harms way, 211 provides a 24-hour public information function, alleviating the high volume of non-emergency calls to 911, so the first responders can focus on their primary mission. In addition, by coordinating service provider information (i.e. where shelters are operating, where to get water, how to arrange transportation for a frail house bound senior), 211 connects people to the help they need.

For more information, please visit www.211US.org

Serving SLO County Since
1970

211 SLO Hotline | P.O. Box 5456 | San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 | 805.540.3803 office | 805.544.6296 fax | hotline@slohotline.org

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