2-1-1 Texas
Information, Referral & Assistance
Texans Urged to Use 2-1-1 Texas Social Services Hotline For COVID-19 Information and Referrals
AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services encourages all Texans in need of COVID-19 information and referrals to community resources to call the 2-1-1 Texas hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“As we encourage people to use social distancing and to stay at home when possible, this state resource can help the public stay informed, stay calm and stay safe,” said Wayne Salter, HHS Deputy Executive Commissioner of Access and Eligibility Services. “Our trained staff are working tirelessly around the clock to respond to all the public’s questions, through 2-1-1 as well as our HHS social media platforms.”
Texans, no matter where they live, can dial 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 and select option 6 to get information and referrals to COVID-19 social services, including testing, community clinics, unemployment benefits and more.
Texans can also dial 2-1-1 to find information about local community resources such as financial assistance for utilities or rent and food pantries, housing assistance, crisis counseling, utility payment assistance, and senior services.
Call center operators answered more than 785,000 calls by Texans for information and services during Hurricane Harvey and are available to help during this public health crisis.
For general health-related information and precautions on COVID-19, visit the DSHS website and the CDC page.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates impacting HHS services and regulated providers by visiting the HHS COVID-19 page.
For more information on the state hotline, visit 211texas.org.
In partnership with Texas Health & Human Services, DETCOG operates the 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Center for our region. Utilizing a comprehensive statewide database, 2-1-1 Texas provides information and referral assistance to all persons seeking access to local programs and services. Thanks to this program, any resident of Texas can simply dial 2-1-1 anytime day or night to learn about services available to them in their own communities.
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Search the online database
Remember, in an emergency always dial 9-1-1.
What is 2-1-1 Texas?
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2-1-1 Texas is the new abbreviated dialing code for free information and referrals to health and human service and community organizations.
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2-1-1 Texas serves as the number to call for information about community resources. It links individuals and families to critical health and human services provided by nonprofit organizations and government agencies in their own community.
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2-1-1 Texas is part of a national effort to help promote self-sufficiency by making information about services much easier to find.
How Does it Work?
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By simply calling 2-1-1 callers are connected with information about available resources in their community.
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Across the state, 2-1-1 centers (Area Information Centers) have been established to collect and maintain a database of local resource information. Each center responds to calls from people seeking information.
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Each center continues to expand its database of government agencies, food pantries, career services, after-school programs, counseling services, and many other nonprofit resources in each of these counties.