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United Way details 211 county referral system; asks city to sustain support
Summary
United Way Monterey County summarized 211 call volumes and needs: nearly 12,000 contacts in 2025 (about 1,000/month), 24% of contacts handled in Spanish, and a high share of referrals for utility and rental assistance; the agency asked the council to continue city support and help publicize the service.
Katie Castagna, chief executive of United Way Monterey County, briefed the council March 17 on the county's 211 information-and-referral system and urged continued city support and promotion.
Castagna said 211 averaged roughly 1,000 contacts per month in 2025 and tallied nearly 12,000 contacts for the year; "El 24% de los contactos se gestionaron en español," she noted, and the service maintains multilingual access and a searchable online resource. She described top needs as utility-payment assistance, rental assistance, food pantry referrals and shelter connections, and said 42% of callers countywide during the period were from Salinas.
Councilmembers and nonprofit partners praised the 211 service's role during disasters and in routine referrals. Castagna outlined funding sources for sustainability (health partners, government, private donors) and thanked the city for past support while asking the council to consider continued assistance and outreach help so residents can find the service.
Council requested continued coordination and outreach; staff and councilmembers suggested listing 211 in city materials, adding printed referral cards, and making sure older residents have printed options.
What's next: United Way will provide materials to the city and staff will evaluate how to amplify 211 outreach through city channels.
