Each week we will post a summary of interesting and representative 211 calls. This week, we have connections from New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.

New Brunswick:

It is especially difficult to look for work when someone is in a community that is new to them. They no longer have the same access to their personal networks and they do not know about the employment support services that they can access. Luckily, 211 is there 24 hours a day for job seekers and can help them to obtain the services that can help them get employment.

A 211 Service Navigator took a call from a man in the city of Saint John who was new to New Brunswick. The caller said that he wanted help in finding a job, but he did not know what 211 was. Someone had recommended that he call 211, but he did not know what kind of help to expect.

The 211 Service Navigator explained what 211 is and the kind of services to which Service Navigators can refer. The Service Navigator asked some probing questions regarding where he was located in the city and what supports would be most useful to him.

The Service Navigator offered to connect him to an employment centre in his area in order to receive some assistance with resume preparation, career counseling and support with his job search. The caller had been confused about 211 when he first called, so at first he had thought that 211 had job listings. However, once the caller understood the role of 211, he accepted the phone number and the address of the closest employment centre. The Service Navigator thanked him for calling and encouraged him to call 211 again anytime if he had any questions about community services in his new city.

Newfoundland and Labrador:

Youth who are facing homelessness need special support. 211 Service Navigators know the range of services that are available to youth who do not have a fixed address, and will connect youth to the programs that can help them.

A youth called 211. He said that he had been told to leave his family home. He stated that he was not homeless yet, and was staying with a friend. However, he was starting to look for other options. Someone had told him that he should call 211 to connect to the information that he would need. He was paying rent, but could not afford a place by himself and was seeking help to find somewhere to live. As he told the Service Navigator: “I am not homeless yet, but I will be. I just need some help with an apartment.”

The Service Navigator asked him several questions to assess his needs and his circumstances. She then referred him to several shelter and housing options, and let him know about the range of support services at each agency.

The Service Navigator wanted to make sure that he got the help that he needed, so she suggested a follow up call to see how the referrals worked out for him. He agreed and together they arranged a time for follow up, so that she could make sure he connected with the services that he needed, and so that she could see if he had any new needs.