MINNEAPOLIS— If you have an emergency, call 911. But what about a financial crisis? United Way reports that more and more Minnesotans are turning to 211, a toll-free community helpline.
“It’s really a place to go when you don’t know where else to go or where to start,” said Julie Ogunleye, executive director of Twin Cities United Way 211 and 988.
In 2023, more than 300,000 people called the helpline, about half of which related to housing problems. In 2024 alone, United Way says calls related to basic needs will increase by about 20%.
“Requests for material goods like household items, clothing, some of the tangible needs that people have as well as food,” Ogunleye said.
The federal poverty guideline for a family of four is $31,200. While many programs will help people who earn double that amount, Ogunleye says more and more people are falling through the cracks.
common road
“We hear every day from people who are earning more than these benchmarks and yet are still struggling,” she said.
Recent data shows that Minnesotans visited food shelves 7.5 million times last year, an increase of 2 million from the record in 2022. That’s why hunger leaders insist on millions in the field of state financing.
“We all need help sometimes,” Ogunleye said. “None of us go through this life alone. It’s okay to ask for help.”
It may be a challenge, but one United Way says it’s determined to tackle it.
“There are families who are making too much money for some of these programs,” Ogunleye said. “In those cases, we work with them to find alternatives or programs that can offset their family budget for that month.”
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Beret Leone
