Congressman Crow Delivers $500K to Upgrade Mile High United Way’s 211 Colorado System
Crow-secured funding will improve technology used to connect Coloradans to jobs, financial assistance, & more
DENVER — On Monday, Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) delivered $500,000 to Mile High United Way for their 211 Colorado Upgrade project to connect more Coloradans in need with financial assistance, childcare, housing, food, and more to lift up local families. The funding is part of the 15 community projects Crow requested and secured through the FY24 appropriations process.
Mile High United Way will use the Crow-secured $500,000 to modernize the 211 system with enhanced chat and text services along with improved targeting to better identify needs, including workforce development and other impactful community support. The database contains information on more than 6,500 services with over 2,500 agencies in the state supporting the confidential, multilingual system available online and by texting or calling 2-1-1.
“211 Colorado has been an essential bridge to better opportunities for Coloradans – from job creation to lowering childcare and housing costs," said Congressman Crow. "That's why I helped secure funding for Mile High United Way to enhance the technology behind the 211 system. I'm grateful to work with them to provide critical services to more Coloradans."
“We know that our community increasingly relies on 211 Colorado – both to be connected to resources like food, shelter and utilities, and provide critical data to leaders to help them better understand where our families are struggling. In 2023, we saw a 15% increase in contact volume at Mile High United Way’s 211 Help Center. That’s why we are so very thankful for Congressman Crow’s support. With this federal funding, we can help even more families access the resources they need to thrive and in better, more efficient ways,” said Christine Benero, Mile High United Way President & CEO.
Rep. Crow with Mile High United Way's President and CEO Christine Benero, Chief Development Officer Chelsea Carver, Trustee Lee Gash-Maxey, Chief Operating Officer Wade Treichler, 211 Community Navigator Specialist Patty Ramos, Trustee Catherine Hance, Senior Director of 211 and Disaster Response Kasey Harlos, and Treasurer and Trustee Douglas Dell.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Congressman Jason Crow
In 2022, Congressman Crow also secured federal funding for 15 projects. In 2023, Crow delivered those funds to the district, including over $1.2M to strengthen the youth-focused mental health workforce and expand access to behavioral health for young Coloradans in crisis, more than $11.6M to support Colorado's newcomers, deliver safe and accessible drinking water, uplift our vulnerable and unhoused neighbors, and funding to support hunger relief efforts and provide stable housing and career support for unhoused Coloradans.
A full breakdown of all FY24 CO-06 Community Project Funding requests can be found here.