About
VISION
Vermont 211 provides all people in Vermont with free access to community resources information and referral (I&R). This access includes personal assistance by telephone by dialing 211, by text, and through an online, searchable directory of services.
MISSION
The mission of Vermont 211 is to promote the health and well-being of all people in Vermont through a statewide information and referral system for streamlined access to community resources.
MODEL
Vermont 211 is a single, centralized community resource information center, providing high quality statewide information and referral (I&R) services in accordance with national standards.
People served
In its first year of operation, 4,974 people called Vermont 211. In 2025, Vermont 211 handled 62,341 contacts and made 22,015 referrals. Contacts grew nearly 30% between 2022 and 2025, from 48,138 to 62,341.
| Year | Total contacts |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 48,138 |
| 2023 | 50,157 |
| 2024 | 57,375 |
| 2025 | 62,341 |
| 2026 (through October) | 43,797 |
Basic needs, including housing, utilities, food, transportation, and material goods, made up 64% of all referrals in 2025. More than half of all referrals were for housing and shelter.
Contact volume surges during emergencies, including Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the floods of July 2023 and July 2024.
Vermont 211’s statewide database includes more than 1,135 agencies, representing 3,270 programs and 11,900 services.
Callers who dial 211 and press option 6 can reach Help Me Grow Child Development Specialists, who connect children from birth through age eight and their families to services.
formation of vermont 211
The organizational structure, standards and service model for Vermont 211 were determined in collaboration with more than 30 public and private agencies throughout the state, including local United Ways, Agency of Human Services, Vermont E-911, hospitals, Vermont Department of Libraries, community mental health agencies, and providers of information and referral services statewide. United Ways of Vermont (UWVT) provides administrative and fiscal oversight.
FUNDING
Vermont 211 is funded by individual United Way agencies throughout Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Human Services, Federal and State funds, and grants from local foundations.
DATA COLLECTION
Vermont 211 collects town, county and statewide data and feeds it back to communities to help make systemic change. Monthly reports representing the needs of every county, as shown in the numbers of referrals, are available on our website.