FAMILY, FUN.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD OF 2, 1, IT'S A FREE HOTLINE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO EVERYDAY SERVICES FROM WHERE TO FIND HOUSING RESOURCES TO UTILITY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ TAKES US INSIDE THE CALL CENTER AND TELLS US MORE.

>> GO AHEAD AND TRY TO >> AND WE HAVE WORK WITH ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET CAN SOMETIMES BE OVERWHELMING.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NAVIGATING THROUGH DIFFERENT WEBSITES, LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING 2, 1, METRO CHICAGO.

THIS IS IT'S TRUE.

TODAY.

THE CITY'S 2, 1, 1, HOTLINE IS WORKING TO MAKE CONNECTING CHICAGOANS WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT.

EASIER TO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT.

>> SO THE SPACE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ARE HOUSES OUR CONTACT CENTER.

SO ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN OUR 2, 1, OPERATIONS.

I'M RESPONDING TO THE COLORS IN NEED.

THE 24 HOUR.

HELPLINE IS FREE AND SEARCH CHICAGO IN SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY.

>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY A REFERRAL SERVICE WITH AN EXTENSIVE DATABASE OF ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES, WHICH USES A GAME CHANGER FOR CHICAGO >> SO IN MY OPINION, YES, THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY IS ACTUALLY BENEFITING FROM 2 IN ONE SERVICE IS BEING INTEGRATED INTO OUR SYSTEM.

NOW BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHEN OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN NEED, WE START OFF AT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH PHONE NUMBER TO CALL WHICH ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A SERVICE THAT I NEED.

>> DOZEN HOMES IS ONE OF THE RESOURCE NAVIGATORS.

ON THE OTHER END OF THE YES, WHAT ACTUALLY WITH THE SCHOOL FOR HUMAN SERVICES?

TELL US WHAT WANTED TO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE PEOPLE.

YES, HOLMES WAS ABLE TO HELP.

DERRICK MAY CAN FIND ASSISTANCE WITH HIS GAS BILL.

SHE GAVE ME HIS NUMBER HERE.

THE PEOPLE AFTER HERE SHE GAVE ME ANOTHER NUMBER.

>> AND I JUST I GET I GET I GET WITH ALL KIND OF NUMBER THAT JUST KEPT CALLING.

>> MAKING CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH WHERE THEY HELPED HIM PAY A PORTION OF HIS UTILITY BILL.

GRATEFUL FOR.

>> REALLY COULD WIN FOR WOULD HAVE NO GAS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO, SEAN GARRETT SPEARHEADED THE INITIATIVE.

>> WE LIKE TO SAY IS THOSE EVERYDAY EMERGENCIES THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING ABOUT.

SO IT MIGHT BE HOUSING MIGHT BE FOOD MIGHT BE GETTING CONNECTED WITH THE JOB.

IT MIGHT BE UTILITY ASSISTANCE REALLY RUNS THE WHOLE GAMUT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

>> IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNITED WAY THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY, THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.

WE HAVE BILINGUAL SERVICE, ENGLISH AND SPANISH.

BUT WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU CALLING ON WILL FIND SOMEBODY.

>> WHO CAN TRANSLATE FOR YOU?

>> THE CENTER HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

JOHN GARRETT SAYS HE'S HOPING MORE PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE RESOURCES ARE OUT.

THERE HOW DO WE TAKE INDIVIDUALS FOR IN A TIME NEED AND GET THEM CONNECTED THERE THROUGH EMPATHETIC AND CARING PEOPLE FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.