NJ 211's Response During Heat Waves
As the State's Homeless Hotline, we answer the call for help from individuals facing homelessness every day. We also work in partnership with county agencies throughout New Jersey to ensure that those experiencing homelessness have a safe place to stay during extreme weather. It's no secret that New Jersey experiences warm summers; 2022 is no different. Due to the rise in heat advisories this season, we've already had 163 Code Red activations across the state over 30 days. Similar to the winter months with Code Blue, when heat advisories are declared throughout the state, NJ 211 provides a list of Cooling Centers for people to find relief. While the side effects of extreme heat are serious, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, they are preventable. Visit our NJ Cooling Centers page to see what may be open near you or our Summer Safety page for other summer heat tips.
Are You Prepared for Hurricane Season?
Did you know that the peak hurricane season for New Jersey is in mid-August? Though hurricane season can run anywhere from June to December, August thru October is the busiest time for storms to hit NJ. Many of the most destructive and powerful storms have occurred during this period, including Hurricane Sandy in October and Tropical Storm Ida in September.
As part of the state's emergency plan, NJ 211 plays a critical role in providing support and information during a disaster. Essential resources for shelter, food, and medical services, as well as evacuation and recovery information, are collected and disseminated to the public in real-time. Additionally, NJ 211 provides nonprofit partners and government officials with feedback from callers on both their needs and unmet needs.
The 2022 hurricane season is expected to be more active than usual; as a precaution, our staff participated in a Disaster Training Module refresher to ensure that everyone is ready and prepared if and when a disaster strikes. The training covered staff roles and the emergency management process of evaluating the damage from the local level through the county, state, and potential federal level. It also covered the different types of disasters and the information disseminated before, during, and after a disaster. Learn more about how NJ 211 handles disaster response and how to stay safe and prepare for a hurricane.
Don't Forget about Register Ready!
NJ residents with special needs and disabilities are encouraged to add their personal information to the special needs registry, NJ Register Ready. The information provided will be shared with emergency response agencies so that first responders will be better equipped to serve registrants in the event of an emergency or evacuation in their area. No one else will have access to the information. Registrants must update their registration information annually to keep the registry current. Learn about Register Ready and how to enter your information.
Stay in the Know: The 411 on 211
As the sole provider of the 2-1-1 service for the state of New Jersey, NJ 211 connects people in need of health and human services with community resources that can help every day! 2-1-1 is a powerful tool that individuals, families, and professionals can depend on when they don't know where to turn in times of crisis and confusion. Connections are made through live assistance from expertly trained specialists who are available 24/7 via phone, text, chat, and email. Our accredited and vetted database houses over 6,700 community resources and is accessible through live assistance and at nj211.org. The database team works hard daily to update and maintain this statewide resource.
NJ 211 strives to ensure that each year more people get the help they need when they need it most. NJ 211 is investigating advanced technology solutions that provide a closed loop referral system. This helps track whether people received the resources that they need. It can also serve as a foundation for case management to ensure all the social services of an individual or family are met.
NJ 211 Earns Second AIRS Accreditation
We are very proud to annouce that NJ 211 has achieved accreditation from AIRS, the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems. AIRS is the professional membership association that sets standards of excellence for Information and Referral (I&R). To learn more about AIRS and their standards, click here.
What Our Consumers Have to Say
“In May 2022 I was forced out of the residence we were renting due to the owner selling. We were left homeless, living with family until we found a place. I was desperate to get a place and assistance for July. I called 211 and they gave me a list of agencies. I worked with Family Promise who offered to pay for my family to stay in an extended stay for an entire month and offered two free sessions of financial planning. I am so grateful to them for their assistance. The 211 representative was extremely helpful, answered all my questions, and directed me to the right agency. NJ 211 is a great resource for any New Jersey resident seeking emergency assistance. I would like to thank them for all their help during this time”. Taline
