Michigan’s 211 service has been updated this month to expand services. Now people in 23 northeastern counties can utilize a 24 live chat.
The program had online chats before, but they typically closed at the end of the work day.
Sarah Kile is the executive director at 211 northeast Michigan.
“Anyone in Michigan can pick up the phone and dial 211 and be connected, but our center is 23 counties in northeast Michigan. Pretty much St. Clair county diagonally northwest to Gratiot county, and then everything north and east of 27.”
Kile said 211 now has 24 - seven online chat, text, and call.
211 is a statewide service that allows people in need to connect anonymously to services… things like food and clothing assistance, locating shelters, and suicide prevention.
Last year, 211 handled more than 400,000 contacts in Michigan.
The 211 service including the 24 live chat can be found here.