What is 211?
211 is an information & referral service that connects people to expert, caring help in finding local health & human resources—food, housing and utilities, to health care, jobs, childcare—and is available by call, text, or online 24/7/365. Every call and text are completely free & confidential.
About SC 211
SC 211 is a free, confidential, and 24/7 information and referral service that connects South Carolinians to essential health and human services. It provides access to community resources including:
- Housing and shelter
- Food assistance
- Mental health and crisis services
- Employment support
- Disaster relief
- Utility assistance
The service is available through multiple channels: phone (dial 2-1-1), text (211-211), and a searchable online resource database (sc211.org).
Our Commitment
Together, we aim to ensure every person in South Carolina has simple, equitable access to the services they need—when they need them most.
Through thoughtful partnerships with community leaders, United Way affiliates, call center professionals, and residents across South Carolina, SC 211 is continuously evolving to meet community needs. We are doing so by:
- Advancing technological capacity
- Improving service equity and quality informed by data analysis and Information & Referral best practices
- Strengthening mission-aligned partnerships
- Enhancing public awareness and outreach
SC 211 operates through a certified statewide network of call centers and database partners that adhere to national and state standards. Call centers are staffed by trained Community Resource Specialists who listen to each caller’s needs, assess eligibility, and provide tailored referrals. The system is powered by:
- Local United Way partners, who provide critical financial support, promote awareness, and use data to identify local needs, guide funding decisions, and advocate for policy changes that improve quality of life.
- Formal resource inclusion/exclusion policies, which guide what agencies appear in the database.
- Adherence to Inform USA (formerly AIRS) Standards, which ensure quality assurance, consistent resource management, and equitable service delivery.State-level certification and compliance oversight, as outlined in South Carolina 211 Network Provider regulations.
These standards require we maintain 24/7/365 availability, follow consistent data-sharing protocols, and report both call volume and unmet needs & service outcomes annually. See our 2024 Annual Report here.
- For Community members
- What to expect; eligibility, hours, documents needed, etc.
- Better Referrals: vetted and verified community-based organizations.
- Comprehensive Database with expert help: Community Resource Specialists are trained to help locate resources for housing, food, mental health, and more. Self-service through the website and text also aid in locating resources based on distance and relevance.
- For Community-based organizations
- Need-specific resources, and agencies with volunteer opportunities that are easy to locate with our standardized taxonomy.
- A way to get to know surrounding community organizations to foster a network of local care for clients.
- Help better serve clients by being able to update information anytime, and to communicate capacity to receive/pause referrals to redirect to other community-based organizations.
- Data Analytics that are geography- and need-based, to identify gaps for programs and grant opportunities. For local reports, contact your local United Way.
- For Legislators and 211 Partners, including local United Ways
- Data Analytics: that are geography- and need-based, to identify gaps in coordination, resources, and data-informed approaches to serving your local or state community.
Collaboration and investment in SC 211’s work to ensure simple, sustainable, empowering connection to local resources.
Inform your work with SC 211’s insightful data, namely current needs based on demographic and geographic information. Technical assistance and capacity building is available for community-based organizations serving South Carolina, with support from local United Ways.
- Key Partnership Opportunities:
- Local, municipal, county, or state agency—including higher education institutions
- Agencies seeking to improve health & wellbeing for South Carolinians, including hospitals and medical clinics, community health, and agencies caring for Access & Functional Need communities
- Local resource directory or information line who wants to ensure your services are accessible using a one-stop call and text service. These may include existing hotlines for 211 to directly connect clients for information or intake.