Cleveland Public Library and United Way of Greater Cleveland partner
to provide 2-1-1 HelpLink services at all Library locations
JUNE 22, 2021 (CLEVELAND, OH) – Help from United Way of Greater Cleveland’s 2-1-1 team of navigators is now just one phone call away at all Cleveland Public Library locations. Starting today, June 22, the Library is teaming up with United Way to provide Clevelanders with a direct link to vital resources and services.
“Cleveland Public Library is more than books. We’re a resource and a safe place for the community to seek assistance and resources to enhance all facets of life,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library. “Access to United Way of Greater Cleveland’s 2-1-1 at the Library will help our patrons reach vital services.”
Visitors can walk in or set up an appointment in advance at a library location to access a dedicated phone line to speak with one of United Way 2-1-1’s highly trained navigation specialists who have a passion for problem solving and working with clients to provide essential services and assistance.
“United Way of Greater Cleveland’s 2-1-1 team is pleased to partner with Cleveland Public Library to expand our services to anyone in need of resources and support, including shelter, food and more, at all Library locations,” said Augie Napoli, United Way of Greater Cleveland’s president and CEO. “United Way’s 2-1-1 continues to serve as an anchor to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – and beyond – connecting Clevelanders with essential, life-saving services, including COVID-19 vaccination assistance.”
United Way’s 2-1-1 is a free, anonymous and 24/7 service that connects callers with friendly and compassionate navigation specialists who will ask a series of questions about the caller’s circumstances. United Way’s 2-1-1 navigation specialists develop customized plans tailored to a caller’s urgency, proximity to resources, physical abilities and more using United Way’s community resource database of more than 16,000 government, health and human services programs.
In one out of every three calls, navigation specialists identify multiple areas of need where additional resources and assistance are provided.
In 2020, over 130,000 Greater Cleveland residents reached out to United Way’s 2-1-1 navigation specialists with over 170,00 needs expressed in one or more of the following categories:
2-1-1 RESOURCES
| Food, Housing & Utility Assistance | Employment Services |
| Health Care including COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance | Mental Health & Other Counseling Services |
| Drug & Alcohol Treatment | Child & Family Support |
| Legal Services | Veterans’ Services |
| Income Support | Tax Preparation Assistance |
For more information about United Way’s 2-1-1 service at Cleveland Public Library, visit cpl.org, 211oh.org/ or unitedwaycleveland.org.
Contacts:
Kelly Woodard kelly.woodard@cpl.org (216)-902-3696
Katie Connell kconnell@unitedwaycleveland.org (404) 895-5513
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About Cleveland Public Library
Founded in 1869, Cleveland Public Library serves the residents of Cleveland through its network of 27 neighborhood branches, the Main Library downtown, Public Administration Library at City Hall, homebound delivery services, and mobile services to daycare and senior centers. From a collection of
10.5 million items, the library lends nearly 6 million items a year to its 300,000 registered borrowers and 45 other CLEVNET-member libraries in 12 counties across Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Public Library is home to the Ohio Center for the Book and the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled, serving all 88 counties in the state of Ohio. For more information, visit www.cpl.org.
About United Way of Greater Cleveland
United Way of Greater Cleveland is a local, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty across the Greater Cleveland area. As the largest private-sector investor in health and human services, United Way of Greater Cleveland addresses poverty through a two-pronged approach. The first prong, the Community Hub for Basic Needs, focuses on the daily issues and basic needs of those living in poverty. The second drives research, innovation and concrete solutions for the future through the Impact Institute, a think tank with an action plan, focused on breaking the cycle of poverty. For more information, visit www.unitedwaycleveland.org.
