How is 211 different from 311, 411 and 911?

How is the 211 helpline different from 311, 411, 511 and 911 services?
You can dial any of the below three-digit phone numbers to reach them.
211 – Information and referral helpline to community, social, government and health services in Ontario.
311 – Customer service and municipal information helpline for the following regions/cities only. (Toronto, Halton, Windsor, Brampton, Mississauga, Ottawa, Greater Sudbury).
411 – Telephone directory and business listings. You can also search yellowpages.ca to find local businesses.
511 – Public information on provincial highway travel in order to improve safety and reduce congestion.
911 – Emergency number for police, fire and ambulance for life threatening situations.
What is 211
211 Ontario is Ontario’s most comprehensive source of information on government and community-based health and social services to help navigate the complex network of human services quickly and easily, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone helpline can provide interpretation in over 150 languages. You can chat online with a specialist Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Links to chat can be found at the top of every page and can chat in English and French. Highly trained specialists answer the 211 service and update the database.
Call 2-1-1 for information on and referrals to:
Non-emergency police number
Crimestoppers
Abuse/assault services
Child abuse services
Counselling
Sexual assault support
Shelters
Other programs
Community legal clinics
Consumer, complaint and ombudsman services
Food programs
Food banks
Community meals
Good Food Boxes
Meals on Wheels
Community gardens
Other food programs located in a community or school food programs
Types of financial assistance, grants or loans for specific needs/situations
Federal income supports
Provincial income supports
Housing subsidy
Rent Bank
Utility and energy bill relief programs
Grant or loan programs for targeted needs
Health services
Walk-in clinics
Community health centres
Home-making help
Ontario Health Teams
Pregnancy/post-natal support
Transportation to medical appointment for seniors/people with disabilities
Chronic disease programs
Health related charities
Health helplines
Mental health and addiction services
Addiction counselling and treatment
Community mental health services
Crisis lines
In-person crisis services
Psychiatric programs
Support groups
Child, youth and family counselling
Housing supports
Health related temporary housing
Housing help programs
Home renovation/accessibility
House expense assistance
Retirement homes
Homeless respite
Homeless shelters
Street outreach
Settlement help for newcomers to Canada
English as a second language classes
International skills evaluation
Interpretation/translation
Newcomer employment programs
Refugee services
Youth programs
Youth shelters
Youth and summer employment
Young parenting
Drop-in centres
After school programs
Family and community programs
Camps
Child care
Parent/child programs
Community and recreation programs
Computer access
Public libraries
Disability supports
Assistive devices
Developmental disabilities
Disability employment programs
Learning disabilities
Ontario Disability Support Program
Transportation for people with disabilities
Is your urgency an emergency? In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
An emergency is any situation that requires immediate assistance from the police, fire department or paramedics.
- A fire
- A crime, especially if in progress
- A car crash, especially if someone is injured
- A medical emergency, such as someone who is unconscious, gasping for air or not breathing, experiencing an allergic reaction, having chest pain, having uncontrollable bleeding, or any other symptoms that require immediate medical attention
Where to find services and goods to help with life’s other challenges?
Yellowpages.ca
www.yellowpages.ca is an easy to search website to find pest control services, plumbers, TV repair services, taxi companies, locksmiths and other services to help. Home supply stores like Canadian Tire and Home Hardware are great places to learn about pest control sprays and traps.
StepstoJustice.ca
If your rent your home the Steps to Justice website has information on what your landlord is and isn’t responsible for. For example, what if my place has cockroaches, mice, or other pests?
https://stepstojustice.ca/questions/housing-law/what-if-my-place-has-cockroaches-mice-or-other-pests
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