The expanded 211 Saskatchewan service was officially launched in Estevan on June 19 during a press conference at Affinity Place.
The event was part of a series of launches that have occurred across the province to mark the expansion of 211 to phone, chat or online text.
“Every corner of the province now has access to the service in its full capacity,” said Shaun Dyer, the executive director of the United Way of Saskatoon.
The United Way Saskatoon and Regina partnered on the 211 Saskatchewan initiative, funded it and supplied the necessary resources to bring the service to the province back in 2013. Dyer described the United Way Estevan as an enthusiastic supporter of the project.
Local past-president Patrick Fisher spoke at the local launch, and described how important it is for people to use the service in Estevan.
“It’s another tool in the toolbox for United Way Estevan,” said Dyer.
The first 211 service was in Toronto in 2002. In Saskatchewan, it was created as a web service in 2013.
“The launch of the web platform was always intended to be the pre-cursor of the full capacity launch, with the text and whatever technological service we could use to expand the service. We first needed to launch the website to demonstrate that it was effective, the service was needed and that we could have the infrastructure towards the service down the road.”
Dyer believes 211 Saskatchewan helps improve the quality of life for people in their communities.
“Sometimes the barriers to thriving are knowing where and how to access the services that people need to get by, and to find that capacity to thrive,” said Dyer
It’s an easy-to-use, one-stop tool so that people can use a phone, text message or website to indicate where they are, and seek the services they need, such as emergency shelter, short-term housing or mental health and addictions counselling.
“People will be put in touch with and referred to services right there in the community,” said Dyer. “We believe the benefit is that it’s an easy-to-use tool in the hands of people who need to find the support and services. Sometimes all they need is a little extra help.”
Dyer said the United Ways are on board because they want to help people succeed, and they will do anything they can.
A total of 110,000 people used the service through the 211 website last year in the province. Eighty-six per cent of users who were surveyed found the 211 service to be “very helpful,” he said, and half of the 86 per cent found a service they didn’t know existed in the community.
“We expect the use will be even higher now that there’s more ways to access the service,” he said.
