Distress Centre promotes 211 service to ease burden on emergency crews

Calgary's emergency responders are teaming up with the Distress Centre to get the word out about 211 an information and referral service that connects Albertans with many social services.

The professionally-staffed service takes calls 24 hours a day allyearfrom people looking for information about everything from housing tofoodto mental health issues.

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More than 35,000 calls are made to211 Alberta eachyear, the city says.However, many peoplewho need help are unsure where to turn andcall 911, says Calgary's 911 centre commanderRichard Hinse.

"One of Calgary's three emergency services will attend the call, but in many instances the citizen requires more help than can be provided by police, fire or paramedics," he said in a release.

By calling 211, Calgarians can get connected with the right resources, saysDistress Centreacting executive directorJerilynDressler.

"Because we're often responding to calls in people's homes, from time to time we recognize that some citizens need more help than we can provide as first responders," said CarolHenke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department in a release.

The service a joint initiative of the Distress Centre, the city and the UnitedWay is free, confidential and can be accessed in more than 200 languages.