As poverty worsens, more turn to 211

By Evan Dawson,

Published February 11, 2025 at 2:28 PM EST

Four smiling people wearing headphones sit around a table in a radio talk studio: a woman front left has short light brown hair and is wearing a blue t-shirt , a black sweater, and black pants; a woman back left has shoulder-length grey hair and is wearing a grey shirt and and lighter grey sweater; a woman back center has short wavy blonde hair and is wearing glasses and a white sweater; a man at right has short dark hair and is wearing a black button-down shirt, a grey checked blazer, jeans, and brown shoes. — (foreground) Jennifer Lake, (background) Sue DiPiazza, and Deborah Turner on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Tuesday, February 11, 2025

A smiling man with short dark hair wearing a blue button-down shirt and a grey blazer. He is holding a pair of eyeglasses. The word "Connections" appears on the left side of the photo in vertical letters.

Many Rochester and Finger Lakes residents don't know what 211 is — until they need it.

Last year, the service received more than 174,000 calls from people who were in crisis, looking for food or housing or health care. With possible federal funding cuts to food assistance or housing support, 211 expects to see an increase in calls this year.

This hour, we discuss how 211's staff is trying to help direct people to services during some of the toughest moments of their lives.

Our guests:

Jennifer Lake, president and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
Deborah Turner, director of crisis and referral services for Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
Sue DiPiazza, customer service specialist for Goodwill of the Finger Lakes