Perth Huron United Way’s Urgent Needs Fund has partnered with the 211 helpline to help people deal with the pandemic.
United Way Executive Director, Ryan Erb, says the Urgent Needs Fund was established three weeks after the pandemic arrived and they started working with Social Services in Clinton.
“So we raised the money and they handed it out. People would basically contact Ontario Works in Clinton and they were able to access the funds either by verbally applying over the phone, or by downloading a form that was on our web site,” said Erb.
By partnering with 211, people can call any hour of the day, on any day and not only get access to the Urgent Needs funding, but 211 can also connect them to get help for whatever issues they’re also dealing with.
“So when people call and say I am experiencing a challenge in my life and it’s financial related, in the past, if they knew about the Urgent Needs Fund, they could access it. But they probably also had three or four other challenges in their life and 211 can connect people with other services,” added Erb.
