211, the phone line that has helped well over 4 million callers find help in the social and human services sectors since it launched a decade ago, is now province-wide. And Ontario is the first province in Canada to be able to make that claim.

The journey, which began in Toronto in 2002, culminated in a series of launches in smaller communities such as Manitoulin this past December. From major urban centres to the tiniest of towns, now every resident of Ontario can pick up the phone, dial the easy-to-remember 2-1-1 number, and with the help of the real live person who answers, find their way to the services and programs that specifically meet their needs.

In 2011, Ontario 211 received nearly 575,000 calls most often related to health issues, income and financial assistance, housing, food and meals, and legal and public safety. Visits to its website, 211ontario.ca , increased 40 per cent.

211 Ontario recently was awarded the Highest Customer Satisfaction Award from Service Quality Management (SQM) for it’s 211 telephone service. SQM benchmarks more than 450 call centres in North America.

“Ontario 211’s expansion across the province will give all Ontarians instant telephone access to local social services information. Whether it is a family in crisis, a young person just starting out, a new Canadian family or a parent searching for local children’s services, the 211 service will make it easier and quicker to find the right services and supports,” said Bas Balkissoon, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Community and Social Services John Milloy.

Learn more About Ontario 211  on You Tube

Check out some of the other 211 Operators in Ontario:

211 Central http://www.findhelp.ca/
211 Dufferin-Peel http://www.peelregion.ca/corpserv/211.htm
211 South West http://www.211ontario.ca/#region:m=QUICK&r=4
211 Central East http://www.communityconnection.ca/
211 Eastern http://www.cominfo-ottawa.org/index.html
211 Northern http://search.211north.ca/