United Way Winnipeg’s President and CEO Connie Walker says Manitoba 2-1-1’s online service has been in place since 2017 and the expansion to the phone service was made possible thanks to funding from the federal government.

Walker explains people can call 2-1-1 at any time as it’s a 24 hour service seven days a week and it’s all confidential and the calls are answered by trained call takers.  She says the whole idea is to spend the time necessary to really understand what the caller needs or what they need on behalf of family members or friend and really try to connect the person with the right kind of support.

Walker says people can call with any kind of health or social service needs such as mental health and addictions, housing, homelessness, and employment.

For more information on the new 2-1-1 phone line service, you can call 2-1-1 or visit mb DOT 211 DOT ca.