ABOUT
211 CALIFORNIA
211
CALIFORNIA
WHAT IS 211
WHAT DOES
211 DO
WHY DOES
211 MATTER
California 211 Providers Network (211 California) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. 211 California members include CPUC-authorized lead entities and local partner organizations. For additional details on statewide impact and activities, see our most recent CPUC Annual Report: 2025 CPUC Annual Report
211 is a vital service leveraged by millions of people across North America. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services and childcare and family services.
No matter the situation, the specialists at 211 listen, identify underlying problems, and connect people in need with resources and services in their community that improve their lives. In 2023, 2,500 211 Call Specialist across the U.S. responded to more than 15 million requests for help averaging 42,000 calls, texts, emails, and web chats each day.
211 does more than “patch people through” to agencies. Instead, 211 specialists are trained to identify root causes of a client’s problem and connect them with a wide range of available resources that meet all the underlying needs, not just the one that prompted the call, text or email.
No other program has its “finger on the pulse” of America’s greatest needs. It is a vital part of the effort by public, private, and nonprofit partners to build stronger communities and fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. 211 makes the social services ecosystem/network more efficient by ensuring people in need are connected to agencies that can help them.