The United Way of Connecticut has launched a new dashboard website tool that provides data and needs information for all towns and cities in the state.
2-1-1 Counts is being launched as part of United Way’s 2-1-1 Connecticut program. It uses a combination of U.S. Census data and service request data collected from the 2-1-1 Connecticut contact center. The dashboard presents a visual representation of community-specific needs throughout the state. Government and civic leaders, service agencies, nonprofit partners, and 2-1-1 users alike can view data through the last year by town/ZIP code, county, congressional district, state house district, and state senate district.
According to United Way, in other states with 2-1-1 Counts, the data has been used to help write grants, create up-to-date reports, show evidence of community need, and inform decision-making.
For example, the portal can be used to break down Hartford County housing needs requests to 2-1-1 in 2015. The data shows 81.5 percent was for shelters; 10.4 percent for rent and mortgage assistance; 7 percent for low-cost housing; and, less than 1 percent for help with home maintenance.
The portal can be reached by going to ct.211Counts.org. Once there you can review the data for a town, county, or district. To help introduce users to the 2-1-1 counts tool, a webinar will be held on June 7 at 10 a.m. To participate in this training, click this link to register.
