Statewide 211 line encouraged

United Way officials will ask governor to offer human and social service help line to all in Mich.

Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News

National and local United Way officials plan to lobby Gov. Jennifer Granholm today to join 20 other states and help Michigan take the 211 help line statewide.

The call line, which launched operations one year ago this week, has referred 98,000 Michigan residents to more than 6,000 human and social service agencies, primarily in food, utility and housing assistance.

But it is only available to 70 percent of the state's population, who live in the state's lower half and Upper Peninsula.

The program, which runs 24 hours a day, currently operates with $6.5 million from private foundations, corporations, nonprofit agencies and some public funds. But United Way is seeking to increase public support to help the call line operate statewide at a cost of $10 million a year.

"It took 911 39 years to get across America," said Mike Brennan, president of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "In a short time, it's taken 211 to get across 70 percent of Michigan. Let's get the commitment to statewide coverage of 211, so every citizen has the ability to pick up the phone and get help."

When West Bloomfield resident Carol Ann Rowland was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she didn't have health insurance but needed surgery. She tried finding help through a local hospital, the state department of human services and even called Granholm and her state senator. But no one helped her.

Then she called the 211 line, which put her in touch with a human rights lawyer who helped get her get Medicaid coverage so she could get the surgery she needed.

"Now I am better," said Rowland, 46. "They are a God-send. Without them I would have died."

You can reach Kim Kozlowski at (313) 222-2024 or kkozlowski@detnews.com.