Testimony in support of SJR2574
Joint Resolution Making an Appropriation of $500,000 to the United Way of Rhode Island for the 2-1-1 Human Services Hotline
Senate Committee on Finance
April 2, 2024
Kavya Gopinath, Policy Analyst, Economic Progress Institute
The Economic Progress Institute supports Senator Cano’s SJR2574, which would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to the United Way of Rhode Island to provide operational support for the 2-1-1 system.
The 2-1-1 system is a free and confidential service that connects Rhode Islanders with any service that is available to them. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. When the number is called, a trained professional will connect you to resources to help with any number of needs, including housing, food, healthcare, affordable childcare, and more. It’s essentially a one-stop shop for Rhode Islanders who need help.
In 2023, the 2-2-1 system served Rhode Island through 188,215 calls and contacts and helped address critical community needs. Of all the calls they received, 47,148 were related to health information, 45,731 related to housing, 42,416 related to food and 26,409 related to utilities.
Increasing funding for the 2-1-1 system would allow them to expand operations and help even more Rhode Islanders. This would improve equity in the state by making services and resources that are primarily used by low-income Rhode Islanders more accessible. The Economic Progress Institute supports SJR2574.