211 SEPA
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services– for everyday needs and in crisis situations.
Every day, highly trained 211 call specialists provide referrals to:
- Basic Human Needs Resources: food banks, shelters, rent and utility payment assistance
- Physical and Mental Health Resources: crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling
- Employment Support: financial assistance, job training, education programs
- Support for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities: home-delivered meals, transportation, health care
- Youth and Child Care Programs: after school programs, summer camps, mentoring, protection services
- Regional Disaster Preparation
With one phone number, callers gain free, confidential access to thousands of programs and services that can help improve the quality of their lives. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 2‑1‑1 (or 1-866-964-7927) or text your zip code to 898-211. TTY and language services are available in more than 170 languages and dialects.
Chester County Coordinated Entry
Chester County Coordinated Entry is brought to you by United Way of Chester County, in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. These United Ways, together with local county government and provider agencies, work to ensure important local program information is accessible through the 211 SEPA helpline when it is most needed.
Chester County Coordinated Entry coordinates and manages access, assessment, prioritization, and referral to housing and emergency services for any person(s) experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness in Chester County using the 211 system. Coordinated entry is the “front door” into Chester County’s homeless crisis response.
Please follow the steps below to contact Coordinated Entry:
- Dial 211 from any phone, text zip code to 898-211 or chat on the local 211 website
- Press 2 for Homelessness and Housing Crisis
- Press 2 for Chester County
Once these prompts have been selected, screening/intake will confirm the client’s residency and housing situation. Needs are assessed to determine appropriate referrals for prevention, diversion and/or street outreach.
If individuals call outside of 8am-5pm M-F, they may be advised to call back during Coordinated Entry Hours for screening and intake.
211 SEPA is part of the national 211 Call Centers initiative that seeks to provide an easy-to-remember telephone number, chat, text, and a web resource for finding health and human services– for everyday needs and in crisis situations.
211 Myth Busters
Please enjoy the short videos below that help explain the expectations on what 211 does and does not do.