Governor Ayotte and Mayor Ruais Tour 211 NH

On Thursday, December 4th Governor Kelly Ayotte made a visit to the 211 NH call center where she had an opportunity to connect with the team answering over 70,000 inquiries from New Hampshire residents annually. Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais also joined the group for a tour.

Granite United Way’s 211 NH initiative is a statewide, free and confidential information and referral service. Anyone in New Hampshire can dial 2-1-1 to connect with a trained Information & Referral Specialist. Each call to 211 NH is personal and individual to that particular NH residents’ needs. They could be seeking resources for anything from assistance with a fuel bill to emergency shelter and substance use treatment. Eversource generously provides in-kind support of space and technology for this critical program.

“Calling 211 NH can be a helpful first stop for someone who may not be sure where to turn,” said Nichole Martin Reimer, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “We help people get connected to agencies and nonprofits that offer services they can use. Our 211 NH service is especially useful in crisis situations. We were honored to have Governor Ayotte and Mayor Ruais visit.”

Offering a single, easy to remember number, the call center has been tapped as a point of entry for many critical programs over the years. During the pandemic, 211 NH was the statewide information line for residents. It has also been the first step in The Doorways program to access treatment for substance use disorders. By collaborating with nonprofits across all areas of need, the 211 NH team provides up-to-date, reliable information, making it easier for individuals to quickly connect with the right resources.

During Governor Ayotte’s visit she had an opportunity to meet with several Information and Referral specialists who serve as the program’s initial connection to residents. 

“211 NH is a vital source of information for Granite Staters in need, and I’m grateful for the strong partnership we have with Granite United Way and Eversource who support this critical help line. I was glad to visit the Manchester 211 call center and thank the frontline team who help connect our most vulnerable citizens with assistance with housing, energy bills, food insecurity and more. I look forward to continuing this important partnership so we can continue to help our neighbors across New Hampshire.” Said Governor Ayotte.

Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais also joined the conversation at 211 NH. He applauded the work and recognized the important role it plays in residents accessing service.

“Granite United Way and its 211 NH team have been an indispensable resource for our residents in Manchester and across the State of New Hampshire. Behind every call to 211 is a person seeking help and the value of 211 NH is that there is a trusted person on the other end connecting them with reliable resources in a complex system.” Said Mayor Ruais.