Help is just a click away: United Way and bc211.ca

Starting today, bc211.ca is now available to help British Columbians access support in their local community. And now it’s only a click away for Okanagan residents to use.

The website bc211.ca is an online information service that is an up-to-date, reliable gateway to community, social, nonclinical health and government services. The service directory database includes more than 12,000 current entries that document and describe services and organizations available to help people. The website is optimized for mobile devices and online chat is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Some of the information available includes: • Employment support • Legal assistance • Mental health and addiction services • Housing options including shelter locations • Seniors services • Children and youth programs, and much more.

“British Columbians need and deserve reliable information and help they can trust,” says Nathan Wright, the executive director of bc211. “We’re here to ensure that people don’t have to rely solely on Google to deal with sometimes difÀcult and often very personal situations. At bc211.ca, we have prompts that help people narrow down their search, assist them in Ànding the services that most meet their needs, and closest to where they live.”

The website bc211 was launched in 2010 in partnership with United Way of the Lower Mainland with phone and online services serving Metro Vancouver. That service expanded to Squamish-Lillooet, Sunshine Coast and the Fraser Valley. Text capability was added in 2015, and in 2017, web chat was added.

In 2016, bc211.ca had more than 287,000 unique visitors, a 22 per cent increase in online queries over the previous year, the majority of which focused on issues of housing and homelessness, substance abuse, and health (non-clinical). The expansion of bc211.ca was made possible through funding from United Ways across B.C.

Visit www.bc211.ca for more information.