If your unemployment benefits are set to expire, consider calling 211, the Bay Area’s community information line. 211 specialists can help people find financial counseling and assistance, child care, job training, food and discounted utility programs.

211 is a resource for people who need help during these tough times, but don’t know where to start.  211′s trained, caring specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Residents who can’t dial 211 can call 800-273-6222 to reach the 211 call center in their area.  For the hearing impaired, dial 711 or 415-808-4440 (TTY).

Learn more and search the online database at www.211bayarea.org.

GET HELP:  The holidays are right around the corner, and United Way wants people in need to get connected!  Call 211 today to find out about holiday assistance programs, such as free holiday meals, food baskets, toys, adopt-a-family programs, and counseling for the holiday blues..  Because of the recession, demand for holiday help is expected to be extremely high, so it is important to call early to connect with programs that serve our region. 

GIVE HELP:  United Way also encourages people who wish to give help to call 211 to connect with nonprofits seeking volunteers and donations.  Dial 211 to connect with holiday volunteer and donation opportunities such as serving holiday meals, organizing a food drive, or collecting and distributing toys to youth and families in need.

Residents who cannot dial 211 should call 800-273-6222 to reach United Way’s 211 call center.  For the hearing impaired, dial 415-808-4440 (TTY) or 711.

Download our 211 flyer, “Get help this holiday season” to post at your office in break rooms, waiting rooms, and community bulletin boards.

Get Help

San Bruno residents affected by the fire can call 800-273-6222 to reach United Way’s 211/Helplink call center. We can connect you with basic needs such as food and shelter, as well as the latest information about re-entry to evacuated homes. The helpline is taking calls 24 hours a day, and can assist callers in more than 150 languages.   (211 is not yet live in San Mateo County; the launch is planned for late October 2010.)

United Way’s 211 is working closely with San Mateo County officials to communicate with residents who were evacuated from their homes about the re-entry process. Over the weekend, United Way’s 211 staff made calls directly to affected residents to let them know when they could re-enter their homes and the process for doing so.

Here is a full list of resources, with information about making donations and volunteer opportunities near the bottom:

Latest information for San Bruno residents

• City of San Bruno Emergency Hotline: 650.616.7180.
• City of San Bruno website: www.sanbruno.ca.gov.

Local Assistance Center (LAC)

NEW (Updated 9/17) – The LAC Center at the Recreation Center is now closed and has transitioned to the San Bruno Recovery Center located at 900 Cherry Avenue, 3rd Floor. The Recovery Center will be open daily from 9-6. The Center brings together service providers who are helping those affected by the fire, including the City of San Bruno.

Organized Labor/United Way Partnership

Organized Labor and United Way share a concern for the health and well being of our community. Union members and others affected by the San Bruno Fire can contact San Mateo Labor Council Community Services Director for assistance and advocacy as they navigate insurance, rebuilding, stress and other issues.   Call:  650 341-7711.

Insurance Questions

Contact the California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-927-HELP (4357) Monday-Friday, 8-5 for questions about insurance coverage and reimbursement for living expenses during the evacuation period. www.insurance.ca.gov

Property Tax Relief

The San Mateo County Clerk is providing advice on filing a claims for property tax relief.  MOre information at http://www.smcare.org/

Home Reconstruction

Mayor Jim Ruane announced that the City of San Bruno will waive all permit fees associated with repair and rebuilding of the affected homes.

Avoid scams and unlicensed contractors.  Residents are urged not to rush into repairs or rebuilding.  The California State Department of Insurance recommends that you:

• Contact your insurance carrier immediately
• Deal only with licensed contractors. Before choosing a contractor, check with the California State Contractors License Board to make sure the contractor is LICENSED. 1-800 321-2752.

PG&E ”Rebuild San Bruno Fund”

To obtain a claim form for financial assistance, call 415-973-89019 between 7:30am-7:30 pm. www.pge.com/response.

Lost Identification and Personal Records,

State and Federal agencies will replace identification cards free of charge.

The San Mateo County Clerk is helping people replace their personal records (birth, death, marriage, and property deeds) at no cost.  http://www.smcare.org/

Schools

San Bruno Park School District sites will be open on Monday, September 13. All afterschool recreation programs at school sites will be in operation. www.sbpsd.k12.ca.us

City Recreation Center

All recreation programs conducted in the Recreation Center or in City Park are cancelled at least through Tuesday, September 14th. www.sanbruno.ca.gov/parks_main.asp

GIVE HELP

Donations

NEW (updated 9/16) 

To assist the community in the recovery, cash donations may be made by check and sent to:
Glenview Fire Recovery Fund
First National Bank of Northern California
Millbrae-San Bruno Branch
1551 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA, 94030

Click here to make a donation to support United Way’s 211 and our work to support the San Bruno residents.

In addition, the following organizations are also accepting monetary donations. See their websites for details:

American Red Cross – Bay Area Chapter

San Francisco Foundation

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Volunteers:

NEW (Updated 9/16) Prior to Tuesday, September 14, 2010, there had been a call for a very limited number of volunteer opportunities and those volunteer spots were filled quickly. There has not been any additional calls for volunteers since that time. Should a need for volunteers arise related to the response and recovery effort, click on page below and register in order to be notified.
www.thevolunteercenter.net/?SanBrunoFire
www.californiavolunteers.org/disastercorps

Last year, 2-1-1 helped 15,791 Bay Area residents connect with food assistance programs. That represents an 88% jump in requests for food assistance from the previous year.  Here is one caller’s story:

Ms. Williams, a 72 year old senior living on Social Security and a widow’s pension called 2-1-1 needing assistance with food.  The limited income she receives barely covers her monthly expenses.

2-1-1 specialist Daphne explained to Ms. Williams how to get on the waiting list for the senior supplemental food program.  She also provided a phone number for a neighborhood food pantry and information about SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps).

A few days later, Daphne followed up with Ms. Williams, who said she was so happy with all of the wonderful food she had gotten. She listed everything she had, as she took each item out of her bag: 3 onions, 4 potatoes, 4 bananas, 1 orange, brown rice, black beans, 3 artichokes, raspberries, lettuce for salad, carrots, purple cabbage, and chicken breast.

Ms. Williams said she had never expected to get fresh food and was so grateful for what she had received. She also asked if she could go back to the pantry again, and Daphne assured her that she could be helped weekly, as needed.

If you or someone you know is hungry, 2-1-1 can direct you to one of the many food assistance programs that serve the Bay Area.  Call specialists are available 24 hours a day, and can also help callers access other programs that offer low-income families discounts on automobile insurance, utility bills, phone service and public transportation.

Photo courtesy of  D. Sharon Pruitt via Creative Commons license.

Calls for basic needs remain steady across the Bay Area

The slow pace of recovery – especially in the job market- has meant that there is an increased demand for community services, everything from food banks, to clothing or shelther needs. And more and more people are turning to 2-1-1 to fulfill that need. 2-1-1 phone service is a great resource for anyone who needs access to basic needs or other community services. Its free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Between 2008 and 2009, calls to 2-1-1 in Napa County more than doubled from 463 to 984 callers. This is part of trend we’re seeing across the Bay Area. Residents reeling from layoffs, or cutbacks in their hours and pay, and other economic troubles, have increasingly looked to 2-1-1 for part of their solution. Around the Bay Area, calls are up around 39% – with 55% of those being for basic needs that include clothing, food, transportation and income related needs. The trend is the same in Napa which was highlighted in a recent Napa Valley Register article.

As noted in this article, in Napa County, about 52 percent of requests are for food, shelter, clothing and utility assistance, with housing needs topping the list, accounting for 35 percent of the needs identified by Napa callers.”

Without 2-1-1, people make on average 10 phone calls to receive the help they need for just one issue. Sadly this leads many to give up—letting their problems multiply. 2-1-1 provides a simple solution. With just one phone call, Bay Area residents are connected to the help they need. To learn more visit 2-1-1. To give help or get help, call 2-1-1 today.