WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, today announced the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, which has been approved by the Senate, includes $800,000 in federal funding for Maryland 2-1-1. The bill was approved as part of Congress’ Fiscal Year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. It now goes to the President to be signed into law.

During a visit to Maryland 2-1-1’s Baltimore Call Center last month, Senator Mikulski promised to fight for these funds in the final spending bill.

“Today, my promises made are promised kept,” Senator Mikulski said. “Families today may be facing tough times: a recent lay-off, an aging father. They need to know where to turn for quick referrals, services and support. I’m so proud Maryland 2-1-1 is on their side. It’s one line to meet people’s bottom line.”

Maryland 2-1-1 is a 24-hour health and human services information and referral service hotline for Marylanders. Open 24/7 and operating in more than 150 languages, 2-1-1 cuts through the maze of Maryland’s estimated 500 toll-free and other “help” numbers for health and human services. Marylanders who’ve lost a job, a home, or who need to know where to get services for their aging father or who to turn to for mental health counseling can rely on 2-1-1 for information and referrals.

Maryland 2-1-1 provides easy to remember, no hassle access to comprehensive, up-to-date information at any time. Calls to 2-1-1 are free and completely confidential. Between April 1 and September 30 of this year, 2-1-1 call specialists have answered 114,151 requests for help, service and support.

Examples of how Maryland 2-1-1 has helped Marylanders include:

• Louise Hughes originally called 2-1-1 for assistance with tax preparation. She could no longer afford to pay for help filing and was looking for a resource. After speaking with one of the 2-1-1 call specialists about the economy and difficult times, she was told that she was eligible for assistance with utility bills and health care. She received help with both.
• A 32-year-old man was recently laid off from his job. His wife’s income was not enough to support them and their young children. The 2-1-1 call specialist was able to direct the caller to his local employment resource center where he could search for job opportunities and get assistance updating his resume.
• A 32-year-old mother of three was trying to make ends meet but got a notice that her electricity was about to be cut off, and her family had no money for groceries that week. A 2-1-1 call specialist helped direct the caller to local agencies that would assist her with energy cut-off notices, and a food pantry where she could go to make sure her children didn’t go hungry.

Senator Mikulski is also an original cosponsor of federal legislation, the Calling for 2-1-1 Act, to provide matching grants to states to help them fund and expand existing 2-1-1 services. The lack of a dedicated and reliable federal funding stream currently prevents many states from expanding their 2-1-1 services.