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Contra Costa Crisis Center is your 211 for Contra Costa County.

One number to find local help.

211 connects you with local health and social services, such as food, housing, utilities, health care, and more.

It's free and confidential. You can stay anonymous if you choose.

Real help. Real people. Local experts who know Contra Costa.

Anytime. 24/7/365

Free

Confidential

Anonymous

If you are in emotional distress or having thoughts of suicide, call, text, or chat 988. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Volunteers preparing food and supplies for the community

What 211 Can Help With

Whatever you need, 211 can help you find it. Our specialists can connect you with local resources for:

Food:

food pantries, meals, and food benefits

Housing and shelter:

emergency shelter, rental assistance, and help for people experiencing homelessness

Utilities:

help paying electric, gas, and water bills

Health care:

low-cost clinics, dental care, and health coverage

Mental health and substance use:

counseling and treatment services

Family and children:

child care, parenting support, and youth programs

Older adults and caregivers:

senior services and caregiver resources

Legal aid, employment, transportation, tax help, and more

Not sure what you need? Just call. We'll help you sort it out.

What Happens When I Contact 211

1

You'll reach a real person.

A trained 211 specialist will answer your call or text.

2

Tell us what's going on.

Share as much or as little as you like. You don't need to know which program or agency to ask for.

3

We'll find options.

Your specialist will search our database of local services and share the ones that fit your situation.

4

You'll leave with next steps.

We'll give you names, phone numbers, and what to expect when you contact them.

If you're going through a hard time, our specialists are also trained in crisis support. You don't have to call a different number to talk with someone who cares.

How to Contact 211

Call

Dial 211 from any phone in Contra Costa County, 24 hours a day. If you can't dial 211, call 800-833-2900.

Text

Open a new text message. In the "To" field, enter 898211. Type your ZIP code as your message and send. A live specialist will reply.

Search Online

Search our 211 Resource Database to find local services on your own, anytime.

211 Resource Database

Programs You Can Access Through 211

Community members receiving food and practical support

Housing and Shelter Help for People Experiencing Homelessness

If you or someone you know is without housing, 211 is the place to start. Our specialists can help you find shelter, daytime drop-in centers, meals, health care, and other services in Contra Costa County.

211 is also the entry point to the County's coordinated entry system. Our specialists complete the County's assessment and connect you with Contra Costa County's C.O.R.E. outreach program, with a direct transfer when possible.

About C.O.R.E.

The Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (C.O.R.E.) program is run by Contra Costa County. It works to engage and stabilize homeless individuals living outside through consistent outreach to facilitate and/or deliver health and basic need services and secure permanent housing.

C.O.R.E. teams serve as an entry point into Contra Costa's coordinated entry system for unsheltered persons and work to locate, engage, stabilize and house chronically homeless individuals and families. The outreach teams identify individuals living on the streets, assess their housing and service needs, and facilitate connection to shelter and services.

To notify a C.O.R.E. team about an unsheltered homeless individual or family, please call 211. Please note that C.O.R.E. teams are not designed for crisis response. For medical or other emergencies involving homeless individuals, please call 911.

What to expect after you call

211 passes your information to C.O.R.E. C.O.R.E. outreach teams are run by the County and decide when and how they respond, based on their capacity and priorities. If you have questions about a C.O.R.E. visit, call 211 and we will help you follow up.

Wildfire burning near a forest

Power Outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)

When there's increased wildfire risk, utility companies may need to turn off power as a last resort to ensure public safety. This is known as a Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS.

211 PSPS Care Coordination connects utility customers with access and functional needs such as a disability, limited transportation, or other conditions for assistance who reside in high fire-risk areas to valuable resources before, during, and after a PSPS. Call 211 to see if you are eligible.

211 California is here to help you before, during and after power outages. With 211, you can build your outage plan and safety kit, get referrals to preparedness programs and more. To start getting ready today, dial 211, text "PREPARE" to 211-211 or visit pge.com/211.

A parent and young child learning together

Help Me Grow

No matter how big or how small, Help Me Grow Contra Costa can answer parents' everyday questions about their children from birth to age 5. Call our Help Me Grow Contra Costa hotline available 24 hours a day at 211 to talk to staff trained to help parents with young children. You can also find out about free screenings to check how your child is growing and developing.

Are you the parent or caretaker of a child? Search the Help Me Grow (HMG) program resource database and discover available services for children ages 0-5 and their families.

211 During Disasters and Emergencies

When disaster strikes, 211 is here to help. During fires, floods, power outages, and other community emergencies, 211 shares up-to-date information on shelters, evacuation resources, and recovery assistance.

This keeps 911 lines open for life-threatening emergencies.

Safety Steps for Any Disaster

1. Get alerts to know what to do. Sign up at CalAlerts.org.

2. Make a plan to protect your people.

3. Pack a Go Bag with things you need.

4. Build a Stay Box for when you can't leave.

5. Help friends and neighbors get ready.

For more information, visit listoscalifornia.org. Source: Cal OES, Listos California.

Need help getting ready? Call 211. We can connect you with local preparedness programs and resources.

Contra Costa Emergency Alerts and Preparedness

Sign up for alerts

  • Community Warning System (CWS): Contra Costa County's emergency alert system. Get alerts by phone, text, or email. Sign up at CWSAlerts.com. Need help with your alert profile? Call (925) 655-0111 or email CWSStaff@so.cccounty.us.

  • Genasys Protect: find your evacuation zone and get evacuation updates at protect.genasys.com.

  • PG&E outage alerts: check whether your address could be affected by a Public Safety Power Shutoff at psps.ss.pge.com.

Get ready

During an emergency

  • If you or someone in your household has mobility challenges, leave during the evacuation warning. Don't wait for an evacuation order.

  • If you're told to shelter in place: Shelter inside, Shut and lock doors and windows and turn off vents, and Listen to official broadcasts such as KCBS 740 AM.

  • Don't call 911 for information about an incident unless you are reporting a life-threatening emergency.

Need information or help during a disaster? Call 211, 24/7, for shelter locations, resources, and recovery help.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

Disaster Preparedness:

Learn how to prepare your household for emergencies, sign up for local alerts, and use 211 for information and resources before, during, and after a disaster.

FAQs

Yes. 211 is free to call or text.

Yes. Your conversation is confidential, and you can stay anonymous if you choose.

Anyone. 211 is for everyone who lives, works, or is looking for help in Contra Costa County. You can also call on behalf of a friend, family member, or client.

Contra Costa Crisis Center is the authorized 211 provider for Contra Costa County. Our trained specialists answer 211 calls and texts 24/7.

Service is available in English and Spanish.

How is 211 different from 988 and 911?

211

211 connects you with local health and social services, such as food, housing, and financial assistance.

988

988 is for anyone experiencing emotional distress, a mental health or substance use crisis, or thoughts of suicide.

911

911 is for emergencies when someone's life or safety is in immediate danger.

Contra Costa Crisis Center answers both 211 and 988 for Contra Costa County.

Yes, if it meets our inclusion criteria. See Information for Organizations below.

Information for Organizations

Should your organization be in the 211 database for Contra Costa County?

Review our Inclusion/Exclusion policy to verify if your organization is eligible for listing in our database and referrals from our call center.

To ensure that the needs of our community are met to the best of our ability, we have developed criteria for the inclusion or exclusion of agencies and programs in our resource database. These criteria are uniformly applied and published so that partnering agencies and the public are aware of the scope and limitations of our database. For further information on our policy please click here.

If you have any questions regarding the inclusion process, please email us at 211ccdatabase@crisis-center.org or call (925) 939-1916.

Need to add or update your organization's listing? Submit an Update Request for Resource Database.

211 Resource Database Training

Participants learn about 2-1-1 services, how to search the 2-1-1 online database, and how to refer clients and community members to agency programs and services throughout Contra Costa County. We offer monthly online sessions or can schedule an online session for your site.

Click here to see our schedule and register for a class.