The general information line could soon be a phone call away for all northern Michigan residents.
TRAVERSE CITY -- With the state of the economy, more and more people are turning to human service organizations. That's why the 2-1-1 service comes in handy for most areas of the state, but not for most northern Michigan residents.
The social service equivalent of 9-1-1 is only available in 37 counties including those in the Upper Peninsula...but the majority of northern Michigan isn't covered. Recently though, money has been put forward to change that.
"Consumers Energy their foundation just gave $300 thousand to help those counties that are currently not served by 2-1-1 to get them on board," says executive director of United Way of Northwest Michigan, Steven Wade.
Plus, the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners have also put forth $20 thousand to help start up the service.
"A year ago they pledged $20 thousand but they said do some homework, come up with a plan. We've since put together a team that has worked out that plan....We will be able to take that $20 thousand combined with Consumers' money and other money that will work on the first phases to make 2-1-1 a reality," says Wade.
Wade says 2-1-1 is still in the early stages for Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska, Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties, but the process is moving along.
"The call center will be based out of Muskegon but the data collection center is going to happen locally by Third Level Crisis Center," says Wade.
Meanwhile, advocates of the service say it's a necessity considering the state of the economy.
"2-1-1 says 'ok I can access a number, I can tell the person on the other end of the line this is what my problems are and this is what I need' and they can say this is the resource you need and connect you with that service," says Herb Lemcool.
For the majority of our viewing area, if you dial 2-1-1 you might a busy signal because it's not in service, but by 2011 that could change.
"The ultimate goal is that we'll have the 2-1-1 ready by February 2011....More and more people find themselves in need and have nowhere to turn and 2-1-1 is the simple answer," says Wade.
Wade says after data is collected for local resources, they plan to first have a toll free number up and running by June. The actual 2-1-1 number is planned to then go into effect by the February 2011 date.
