Have you heard or used 211?

The last 29 days of the month are the toughest!

Through 2-1-1 people connect to a wide range of services from disaster relief to utility assistance, senior citizen programs, emergency food, job counselling, youth programs and much more.  It is the one-stop-shop for services available in many communities.  

In the United States 2-1-1 was designated for nationwide use as an information and referral phone line by the Federal Communications Commission in 2000. 2-1-1 is designed to serve three major objectives: 

1. Connect people in need to health and human service assistance available through government programs and private nonprofit organizations in their communities; 

2. Provide assistance to communities in time of disaster, allowing 9-1-1 to work primarily with first responders; and 

3. Connect volunteers and donors with organizations who can leverage these resources to meet the needs of the community.  

If you live in BC you may not have heard of bc211 or the Red Book Directory, but if you need services or information they are a great resource. Other provinces Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, as well as the United Way of Pennsylvania (PA 211), have a 211 line. To check if you have such a service in your area do a google search for 211. If your area doesn't have this type of resource you should consider advocating for the creation of such a service. 

bc211.ca  is a searchable online directory of community, government, and social services in BC the directory covers all of BC.

Bc211 is a non-profit information and referral organization that has been working since 1953 to connect people with the help they need.

Where does the resource information come from?
The resource information on bc211.ca is collected directly from the organizations listed on the site  Here are some of their help lines, that anyone in BC can call:

211 – 2-1-1

211 is a confidential, multilingual telephone and texting service available in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Squamish-Lillooet and Sunshine Coast Regional Districts. 211 provides free information and referral to a full range of community, social, and government services, and operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

VictimLink BC – 1-800-563-0808

VictimLink BC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual telephone service available across BC and Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-563-0808. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.   www.victimlinkbc.ca

Problem Gambling Help Line – 1-888-795-6111

The Province’s Responsible Gambling Strategy exists to help reduce or prevent the harmful impacts of excessive or uncontrolled gambling. The mandate of the Strategy includes providing free support and treatment services and promoting responsible gambling practices through education and policy development. The BC Responsible Gambling Strategy involves the Province, through the Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch and the BC Responsible & Problem Gambling Program, and the BC Lottery Corporation. www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca

Youth Against Violence Line – 1-800-680-4264

The Youth Against Violence Line is a safe, confidential and anonymous way for young people across BC to report crime or violent incidents, or to talk through any type of problem with a supportive person. We offer non-judgmental support in many languages and will provide you with options, information and referrals to services that can help. Parents, teachers, caregivers, service providers and others can also call for information about youth-related resources. www.youthagainstviolenceline.com

The Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service

Lower Mainland: 604-660-9382

BC: 1-800-663-1441

Worried about drug and alcohol use? Whether it’s for yourself or someone you care about, you can call for information, options and support. They can refer you to a full range of counselling and treatment services across BC. Services on the Alcohol and Drug Line are confidential, multilingual, free, and available 24/7.

The Shelter and Street Help Line – 2-1-1

The Shelter and Street Help Line is designed to assist people who are affected by homelessness in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts, as well as in Greater Victoria. They understand that a wide range of circumstances can result in homelessness so we provide information on a variety of programs and services. The Shelter and Street Help Line calls Lower Mainland and Victoria shelters twice per day and publishes the Shelter List, which details available shelter beds and mats for women, men, youth and families. The Shelter List is updated twice per day at around 11:30 AM, and around 7:30 PM. Contact them to find available shelter beds and services in the Lower Mainland and Victoria: dial or text 2-1-1. 

Helping friends

Earlier I had a discussion with a friend about helping out in times of crises. Many people don't know how to help or they help on their terms. We were talking about a time when my friend needed help and some people said I can help, what do you need....when told the response was....oh, I can't do that, what can I do....Oh, I cannot do that.....
My suggestion is if you have a friend in stress or crises, don't offer help and then put conditions on that help. When we are in crises and are just barely coping with whatever situation we find ourselves in, we need to have support. Many of us don't have family close by anymore that helped us and so we rely on friends, but friends mean well but sometimes don't know how to respond effectively. If we don't have friends then we have to rely on the institutions and social support networks that we have, as a society, put in place to help. These institutions provide some help but they operate on their schedule not ours.

When I was growing up in the East Kootneys, from what I read in my mothers diary, we as a family did not have very much and we had to rely on our extended family and family for support and help. And that help was given unconditionally. We move away from family or some people are single children and have no close family to help, so it is, in my mind to offer support when you see them in a crises situation. I know I try to do this and I think it is because my family received the support when we needed it. I urge you to do this as well.