211 line now available to county cellphone users

All cellphone users in the county can now dial 211 and get the free help service previously available only to land-line users, officials said Monday.

The 211 service was created in 2005 to refer callers to such social services as homeless shelters and medical clinics. The intent was to reduce unnecessary 911 calls, said Maribel Marin, executive director of 211 in the county.

Callers to 211 are connected to specialists who assess the callers’ needs and provide information they request. The phone service, which Marin said fields up to 40,000 calls a month, connects people to social services related to healthcare, immigration services, legal referrals, food and shelter assistance, and support groups, among other needs.