Each week we will post interesting and representative 211 calls. This week, we have a connection from New Brunswick:

An elderly woman called from a small town in New Brunswick, NB, saying that her furnace had broken, and she had no heat in her house. She was tight on money and could not afford to fix the broken furnace, so she had been using a gas fireplace that was working great for her, until it recently broke down as well. She was referred to 211 for help. 

The Community Resource Navigator addressed her situation and was referred to the energy assistance program in New Brunswick, which she was unaware of. The Community Resource Navigator also located a commercial service that specialized in propane heaters and provided her with the information. 

Considering this was an elderly woman, the Community Resource Navigator, offered to conduct a follow up call to ensure that she received help. The caller was happy to be offered a follow up which she agreed to do.