211 helpline is welcome addition to Southern Hills

We all know what services are waiting for us at the other end of the phone line when we dial 911 in an emergency. But how many of us are aware of the new 211 informational helpline that is now available in the Southern Black Hills?

The free 211 call line expanded to the Southern Hills this past month, thanks primarily to funding from the newly-formed Southern Hills United Way and John T. Vucurevich Foundation of Rapid City. It is now available in Custer, Hermosa, Hill City, Hot Springs, Edgemont and Keystone, as well as Rapid City and Northern Black Hills communities.

What exactly is 211? According to material provided by Lynne Hix, resource development specialist for HELP!Line Center, Inc. in Rapid City, it is a free information and referral helpline that provides resource information on non-profit, social service and government programs, along with providing crisis intervention services. It has information on more than 800 community resources for the Black Hills area.

For instance, if a family is having trouble paying its utility bill this winter or is having a difficult time putting food on the table and doesn’t know where to turn, a 211 call can put them in touch with someone with information that can help them out. As would be expected, the most calls to 211 revolve around financial assistance questions. The majority of these calls center on rent/mortgage, tax preparation, miscellaneous, utilities, transportation and holiday assistance.

Other calls to 211 are about government, basic immediate needs, health/medical, mental health, housing, food, legal, transportation, substance abuse, donations, education, emergency personnel, clubs/organizations, employment, domestic violence and suicide. The 211 HELP!Line call center answers the Suicide Prevention HELP!Line of 1-800-273-TALK for the entire state of South Dakota.

This is an important service because the state was ranked sixth in the nation for highest rate of suicide in 2006. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in South Dakota. Statewide suicide related calls have increased gradually from 704 in 2006 to 932 in 2009. More than 120 suicide related calls came from the Black Hills area in 2009.

This is good timing for a service like 211 to come to our Southern Black Hills communities. Families and individuals are facing some difficult financial situations brought on us by a high national unemployment rate due to the national recession that is said to stretch out well into this year. People are struggling to make ends meet and a call to 211 may well get them pointed in the right direction so they can obtain the necessary help they need.

You can help by spreading the word about services waiting for those in need who pick up the phone and dial 211.