211info (Oregon 211)

When you do not know which Oregon program to call, dial 2-1-1, or the toll-free number 866-698-6155 (useful because some VOIP or Wi-Fi phones cannot reach 211). 211info is a free service that connects Oregon residents to local resources: housing and shelter, utility assistance, food, health care, and more.

Know the hours so you are not surprised. Core phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some programs, like Child Care Referrals, run longer, and hours can expand during emergencies. It is not a 24-hour line for everyday needs, so plan your call.

There is more than one way to reach it. Text your zip code to 898211 (weekdays 9 to 5), or email, with responses within 72 hours during core hours. Service comes in English and Spanish, and language interpreters are available. Deaf or hard-of-hearing callers dial 711 for TTY and call 866-698-6155.

You can also help yourself any time. The 211info website has a searchable resource directory, where you add your location and a radius, or use Guided Search by category, covering crisis hotlines, housing, utilities, food, extreme heat, health care, transportation, and more. There is a 211info app too.

Know what 211 is and is not. It refers; it does not pay bills itself. The value is knowing which local agencies and funds near you have money or open intake right now, which changes month to month.

Pair 211 with the statewide front doors: one.oregon.gov for SNAP, cash, and the Oregon Health Plan, and oregonlawhelp.org for free legal help. For a suicidal or mental health crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any hour.