211 Iowa

When you do not know which Iowa program to call, dial 2-1-1. It is a free information and referral service. It connects Iowans to local health and human service resources. You can dial 2-1-1 from any Iowa phone, or call the toll-free number 1-800-244-7431. The service is free and confidential.

There is more than one way to reach it. You can text your ZIP code to 898211. You can search the online resource directory at search.211iowa.org. Live chat runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Service is available in English and Spanish.

The referrals cover the needs that pile up together. 211 connects people to food, shelter, and utility assistance. It also links to health and human service programs, community services, disaster services, and government programs. If you have several problems at once, one call can point you in several directions.

Know what 211 is and what it is not. It is a referral hub, not the direct provider of aid. It does not pay your rent or your utility bill itself. Its value is knowing which local agencies and funds near you have money or open intake right now. That changes month to month.

It is open to everyone, with no income test. You do not apply for a benefit here. You ask for directions to the help you need. 211 Iowa is run as a program of United Way.

Use 211 alongside the state's main front doors. Apply for SNAP, cash, and Medicaid at hhsservices.iowa.gov. Call Iowa Legal Aid at 1-800-532-1503 for housing help. And 211 itself connects you to health and human service programs across the state.