City of Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Proclamation
WHEREAS, The 2 -1-1 HelpLine is an information and referral system connecting people to free or low cost health and human services and up -to-date incident and emergency- related information through call, text, and the web; and
WHEREAS, The 2-1-1 information and referral program was first enacted by the Federal Communication Commission in 20 00 and now covers 8 5 percent of all households nationwide. 96 percent of the population in the State of California has access to 2-1-1; and
WHEREAS, 2-1-1 Santa Barbara County was first implemented in 2005 and is a free and confidential service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 150 languages to every resident countywide; and
WHEREAS, In November 2 014, almost ten years ago, 2 -1-1 became a program of CommUnify, a Santa Barbara County nonprofit that empowers people and transforms lives through its 16 programs that serve the community; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, 2-1-1 had more than 66,123 web visits including 31,892 new users to 211santabarbaracounty.org, with o ver 12,000 of those visits regarding COV ID-19 assistance .
Approximately 3,000 resources were provided to residents throughout the County by a live call specialist; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, the most ur gent resident needs included calls about Housing, Financial Assistance, Pandemic Information, Mental Health, and Food Insecurity; and
WHEREAS, CommUnify’s Energy Services will be hosting the free 2 -1-1 Community Day Celebration on Saturday, February 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Minami Center in S anta Mar ia with over 50 nonprofit agencies, fre e health screenings , and vaccines, children’s activities, food, entertainment and more; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALICE M. PATINO, Mayor of the City of Santa Maria hereby proclaim the month of February 10, 2024, as
“2-1-1 Day”
in the City of Santa Maria.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Seal of the City of Santa Maria to be affixed hereto this 6th day of February 2024.
______________________________
Alice M. Patino, Mayor