(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Residents of north suburban Lake County now have one number to call for one-stop-shopping for social services they may need.
United Way of Lake County says people in Lake County looking for help with addiction services, domestic abuse, rent payment issues or anything else do not have to spend hours on Google.
They can call 2-1-1.
United Way president and CEO Kristi Long says people can even text to get a 2-1-1 center navigator.
“You text to 898211 and you put in your zip code, and then it’ll take you to the 2-1-1 that covers that zip code,” she explained.
Long adds: “The person answering the phone really gets to understand what the person is looking for and then is that service available in Lake county and, if so, they will guide them there.”
The 2-1-1 system will cost agencies $435,000 a year. About 20 percent of that comes from Lake County government’s video gambling revenue.
The call-center itself is in Camarillo, California but has a database of more than 1,000 programs in Lake County.
Lake County is now the largest county in Illinois to have the 2-1-1 service.
More information may be found at 211lakecounty.org.