PRESS RELEASE

National 211 Day: Connecting Halton and Hamilton to Support When It Matters Most
HALTON, HAMILTON, February 9, 2026 – As communities across North America get ready to mark National 211 Day on February 11 (2/11), United Way Halton & Hamilton is highlighting the essential role of 211 in helping residents navigate growing housing instability, mental health challenges, and economic pressures.

How 211 Works: A Front Door to Support

211 is a free, confidential, non-emergency information and referral service that connects
people to critical social, government, and community supports. Available 365 days a
year by phone, text, and online, 211 is accessible in more than 150 languages.

When someone contacts 211, they are connected with a trained navigator who listens
with empathy, helps identify their needs, and connects them to appropriate local
services. Whether someone is searching for housing support, mental health resources,
income assistance, or caregiver supports, 211 helps people navigate what can often
feel like a complex and overwhelming system.

Beyond individual support, 211 also serves as Canada’s largest database of community
and government services and plays a vital role in identifying emerging needs and
service gaps across communities.

Why 211 Matters More Than Ever
United Way Centraide Canada is a proud founding partner of 211 in Canada, providing
funding, leadership, and advocacy to expand access nationwide. At a time marked by
rising living costs, housing shortages, and rising demand and need for social services,
211 continues to act as a critical connector, ensuring people can find help when and
where they need it.

“211 is often the first place people turn when they don’t know where else to go,” said
Brad Park, President and CEO of United Way Halton & Hamilton. “It offers something
incredibly powerful in moments of stress. A human connection, clear information, and a
path forward.”

What Local 211 Data Is Telling Us About Halton and Hamilton

Local 211 data from 2025 provides a clear picture of the growing pressure facing
residents across Halton and Hamilton.

In 2025, 211 received 8,063 contacts from people in the region, representing an 11 per
cent increase compared to the previous year. From those contacts, 9,582 distinct needs
were identified, an increase of 14 per cent, highlighting that many individuals and
families are reaching out with multiple, interconnected challenges.

The top three needs identified locally remained consistent with previous years:

• Housing supports, including crisis and emergency housing, domestic violence
shelters, homeless drop-ins, and supportive housing

• Mental health supports, such as counselling, therapy, support groups, and crisis intervention

• Information and referral services, including access to public computers, information lines, and libraries
While the top needs remained the same, housing became an even more prominent
concern in 2025. Housing-related needs accounted for 17.5 per cent of all identified
needs, up from 16.6 per cent in 2024, signalling deepening housing instability across
the region.

Adults continued to make up the largest share of people contacting 211 locally,
accounting for 45 per cent of contacts, while older adults represented nine per cent.
These trends reflect sustained demand for supports related to housing stability, mental
health, income security, and aging at home.

“Local 211 data gives us a real-time window into what people are struggling with right now,” said Park. “When we see rising contacts and growing housing-related needs, it’s a clear signal that the pressures facing our community are intensifying, and that coordinated, accessible support is more important than ever.”

Using Data to Strengthen Community Response 
In addition to supporting individuals, 211 data helps governments, funders, and service providers better understand changing community needs. This insight supports more responsive planning, smarter investment decisions, and stronger coordination across the social services sector.

“211 doesn’t just help people find services, it helps communities understand where systems are under strain,” Park added. “That knowledge is critical if we want to build solutions that are effective, equitable, and grounded in lived experience.”

As National 211 Day approaches, United Way Halton & Hamilton encourages residents to remember that help is just three digits away, and to support sustained investment in services that ensure everyone can access the care and support they need to live with dignity.

For more information about 211, call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca.

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About United Way Halton & Hamilton

United Way Halton & Hamilton (UWHH) is committed to leading measurable, impactful change by identifying the most challenging issues in our community, and bringing together people and resources to address those issues. We connect volunteers with local needs, and offer training and operational support to local charities. Along with our network of partners and experts, UWHH conducts research and works with key stakeholders to generate support for the not-for-profit sector. Each dollar raised is invested right back into the community to address the long-term recovery of its vital social safety net. Last year, UWHH helped 226,520+ residents across Halton and Hamilton, who relied on 124 United Way-supported programs for life changing services.

For more information and to donate visit: www.uwhh.ca.

Contact: Kristen Jacob
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
United Way Halton & Hamilton

C: 416.825.9411

kjacob@uwhh.ca