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Chester County proclaims National 2-1-1 Day and highlights local Human Needs Network
Summary
The county proclaimed Feb. 11 National 2-1-1 Day and heard that Chester County's Human Needs Network and local 2-1-1 handled just under 10,000 calls in 2025, using mobile navigators to connect residents to housing, food, health and other services.
Chester County commissioners on Feb. 4 proclaimed Feb. 11 National 2-1-1 Day and heard from Human Needs Network partners about the local information-and-referral system that connects residents to housing, food, health care and other services.
Julie Gentile, manager of information and referral services in the Department of Human Services, told the board the county’s 2-1-1 partnership handled just under 10,000 calls from Chester County residents in 2025 and that the contact center is staffed primarily by local residents. "We received just under 10,000 calls last year... somebody's answering the phone 24/7/365," Gentile said, stressing the center’s availability and local staffing model.
Speakers from partner organizations including the Chester Youth and Women's Alliance (CYWA) described how 2-1-1 helps shelter coordinators and service providers triage crises and find placements, and a shelter coordinator described daily case management and after-hours support that relies on fast referrals from 2-1-1.
Commissioners signed the proclamation and thanked staff and nonprofit partners for the collaboration. The board encouraged residents to call 2-1-1 for assistance with housing, utilities, food, employment, veterans' services and mental-health resources.
No regulatory action or funding changes were made at the meeting; the presentation served to raise awareness of the county's Human Needs Network and local navigation services.
