The United Way's 211 helpline received 6 million calls for referrals for housing support, almost twice as many as calls for utility assistance.
The United Way reports that calls to its 211 helpline for housing assistance support reached a record high of 6 million in 2025, accounting for 31% of the helpline’s referrals.
According to an article by Ryan Kushner in Smart Cities Dive, that number eclipses the next largest call categories, which were utilities (3.1 million) and food assistance (2.5 million). "Over the past decade, referrals for housing assistance have surged 150%. Housing last year also made up the largest 'unmet need,' according to the organization."
Heather Black, vice president of 211 system strategy at United Way Worldwide, said "What we’re hearing across the 211 network is a sharp increase in people struggling — particularly around finding and keeping stable housing — which serves as a sounding alarm from communities nationwide."
Read the full story: Housing referrals from United Way helpline hit all-time high: ‘a sounding alarm for communities’
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