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United Way urges the state to preserve $200,000 2-1-1 appropriation that supports statewide helpline
Summary
United Way and committee members told the subcommittee that the governor's FY2026 recommendation including $200,000 for United Way 2-1-1 would keep a statewide, 24/7 multilingual resource connected to human-services navigation. United Way cited operational returns and the service's role after the Bridges breach.
United Way representatives told the House Finance subcommittee that maintaining a $200,000 state appropriation for United Way 2-1-1 is a cost-effective way to keep a 24/7 multilingual navigation service operating for Rhode Island residents.
Why it matters: United Way 2-1-1 acts as a front door for residents seeking food, shelter, benefits and other social supports. During the Bridges outage and other system disruptions, 2-1-1 fields real-time requests and provides local information that can reduce emergency costs.
What United Way told the committee Elijah McClain (manager of government relations and policy, United Way Rhode Island) told the committee that 2-1-1 handled nearly 213,000 contacts in 2023 and that the service provides real-time data on needs across the state's 39 municipalities. United Way said the appropriation supports live, trained navigators, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) work, and outreach vehicles that reach neighborhoods statewide. United Way asserted that each dollar invested in 2-1-1 returns multiple dollars in avoided emergency and administrative costs.
Committee reaction and context Legislators expressed support for 2-1-1 as a preventive, low-cost resource that helps residents access benefits and reduces calls on higher-cost services. Members asked about the service's reach into rural areas and its role during system outages; United Way said 2-1-1 was an active partner during the Bridges recovery and remains positioned to help residents navigate benefits and services.
No formal action was taken at the hearing; United Way asked the committee to preserve the $200,000 appropriation included in the governor's recommended budget.
Source: Testimony by Elijah McClain, United Way Rhode Island.
