How Can I Get Help?
Dial 211 to connect and get help with essential needs.
You'll speak to a caring and compassionate Maryland resident who will listen to your needs and provide local community resources to help.
Translation is available in 150+ languages.
What Is 211 Maryland?
211 Maryland is the state's most comprehensive health and human services Information and Referral System.
You can dial 211 on your phone to speak with someone who is trained to help with essential needs.
You can also search for information and community resources online through this website by choosing a category where you need help, like food, housing, child care, mental health, and more. You can also search the community resource database for support near you.
Who Should Call?
Anyone in Maryland who needs support can dial 211. Someone can talk 24/7/365.
211 is also accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing through Maryland Relay (dial 7-1-1).
Translation is available in 150+ languages.
How Can 211 Help Me?
211 call specialists are trained to help connect individuals and families who need help with essential needs, such as:
- housing
- food
- utility shutoff
- mental health
- children and families
- legal questions and help
- employment
Does It Cost Anything?
211 services in Maryland are free and confidential.
If you dial one of our local numbers from outside the area, your telephone provider’s long-distance rates may apply. If you call from a cell phone, air time and other cell phone charges may apply.
How to use the 211 Maryland website
In addition to dialing 211, you can find community resources on your own on the 211 Maryland website.
Translation
The website can be translated into multiple languages, including Spanish, Haitian Creole, Yoruba, French, and more. Click on English in the upper right-hand corner and choose your language from the dropdown menu.
How to find help
You can search for local resources or get information and resources for the top needs.
Here's how to access resources on the 211 website:
- Search for community resources
- Get information and referrals for top needs
Let's explore the two options to get connected to help.
Search for community resources
This is the state's most comprehensive health and human services resource database with thousands of community resources. You can search by ZIP code, need, language and more. Here's a quick hint to find what you need - take a tour of the database by clicking on the blue button just under the search box. That will provide searching tips to help you find what you need quicker.
This is the same database 211 specialists use to find resources for callers. If you can't find what you need, you can always call 2-1-1.
Get information and referrals for top needs
Sometimes you need more than a resource. For example, you may need to know how to apply for food stamps or if you qualify for utility assistance. The 211 resource category pages provide that information and also refer you to top resources for that need.
You can search for this information by:
- category - information about the top resources in a category
- county - information about the top resources in a county
You can also quickly and easily access the resource database from these pages. This is the same database 211 specialists use to find resources for callers. If you can't find what you need, you can always dial 211.
Top Resource Categories
Here's a quick guide to get started. Choose the resource category for which you would like to get information and referral to resources.
Benefit Screening in Maryland
You can also check your eligibility for benefits in Maryland through myMDTHINK - a portal through the Maryland Department of Human Services. With some basic information like the number of people in your household, their incomes, and your household costs, you can check your eligibility.
Older adults and disability benefit screening
If you are an older adult or have disabilities, you can use BenefitsCheckUp® from The National Council on Aging. It helps you find programs for which you may be eligible.
You'll answer questions anonymously to find out if you qualify for common benefits programs. These may include social services for food or Medicare. You can also find patient assistance programs for medication.
Find out what programs and services you may be eligible to receive through BenefitsCheckUp.
Other Ways 211 Can Help
211 also partners with state agencies and community groups to provide texting programs that provide information and inspiration through text messages.
Text connections
You can also sign up for one of our texting programs, which connects you to information, resources and support for a public health or weather threat/emergency, kinship, Mid Shore resources, mental health, opioids and more.
Get Help from 211 In Other States
2-1-1 is available in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and much of Canada. Our neighbors: