About NJ 211
In New Jersey, our motto has been: Need Help? Start Here.
NJ 211 is a nonprofit organization that provides the 211 Service to the residents of New Jersey. This is a valuable information and referral service that connects people in need with a variety of health and human service programs. The 211 Service provides a hotline that operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year and an online, searchable directory of over 6,300 government and nonprofit programs which is found on our website.
Our services are free, confidential and multilingual. There are several ways to get help:
- Dial 2-1-1
- Text your zip code to 898-211
- Email info@nj211.org
- Chat with us at nj211.org
- Search our social service directory
Whichever method you choose, you will be communicating with a skilled community resource specialist who cares and has been trained on federal, state, and local programs created to help people who are struggling with life’s most basic needs. Our specialists search our social service directory to assist people who need help with life's most basic needs like food, utilities, housing, mental and physical health, substance use disorders, childcare, senior needs, legal assistance, transportation, disability services and so much more.
Over the years, both government and nonprofits have partnered with NJ 211. Today, in addition to the 211 Service, we serve as the State’s Home Energy Assistance Hotline, Homeless Hotline and Addiction Helpline. Each of these has dedicated specialists, who will screen and assess each caller. Our Programs page describes them further.
In 2023, we published our first public data dashboard. This provides a detailed view of the contacts, caller demographics, needs by location and referrals made on a monthly basis. This information is very helpful in identifying trends, resource gaps and advocating for change.
Our History
The statewide information and referral service began in 2002 when the United Ways of New Jersey spearheaded efforts to give people in need an easy way to find health and human services by encouraging the Board of Public Utilities to designate the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership as the sole administrator of the three digit dialing code. On February 11, 2005, New Jersey's 211 system was launched statewide.
We've been assisting people ever since. In 2022, NJ 211 helped over 1.3 million people find health and human service resources in local communities throughout our state. More than 910,000 people visited our website where they were able to access informative content pages about programs and systems created to address life's basic needs; download applications and find critically important eligibility criteria. Web visitors use the very same database that our community resource specialists turn to when assisting people who contact our help center by phone, text or online chat.
From hello to help...
Inform USA Accredited
NJ 211 is Inform USA Accredited. Inform USA is the membership association for information and referral professionals, and the driving force behind clear and consistent professional standards that benchmark every aspect of quality I&R. This accreditation puts NJ 211 in an elite group of information and referral organizations. Inform Usa accreditation signifies that we conform to stringent guidelines for database resource collection and maintenance; handle calls with empathy as we guide callers to the most useful resources; and, maintain meticulous call data records.
211 National Network
The 211 system is found throughout the United States and is devoted to connecting people in need to the resources that can help. While each 211 operates independently, all of the more than 200 organizations provide a network of local support that people can call on with confidence when they need help and simply don't know where to turn.
211 National Data Platform
The National Data Platform (NDP) is a single, authoritative trusted source of community social and human service data. The NDP aggregates data from local 211 resource management systems into a shared national resource database. With its advanced analytic capabilities, the NDP serves as a shared repository of valuable 211 resource and consumer data for advocacy and other opportunities.