Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003

The Calling for 2-1-1 Act of 2003 was designed to establish a nationwide 2-1-1 telephone number to help citizens easily find and access local human services. Under this bill, the federal government would provide grants to states to create a centralized system where individuals could call a single number to be connected with community resources, such as food banks, housing assistance, and mental health services.

For everyday citizens, this legislation aimed to simplify the process of finding help during times of need by replacing a confusing array of local agency numbers with one easy-to-remember three-digit code. To receive federal funding, states were required to match at least half of the costs and ensure that the service maintained an exhaustive, up-to-date database of available public and private social services. Although the bill was introduced to streamline access to essential care, it did not advance past the committee stage during the 108th Congress.