Founded in 1964, the lifeline assists Arizona residents more than 500,000 times annually, connecting them to resources and services available locally throughout the state.
PHOENIX April 22, 2025 – Solari Crisis and Human Services is calling on state leaders to take urgent action to preserve statewide funding for 211 Arizona, a vital community resource that connected Arizonans to shelter, food, and crisis support more than 522,000 times in 2024 alone.
Founded in 1964 and operated by Solari since 2017, Arizona’s lifeline for health and human services is not currently in Governor Katie Hobbs’ budget plans for 2026. Since 2020, the state has funded 211 Arizona, a program offering free assistance to Arizona’s most vulnerable in English and Spanish. Help is available by dialing 2-1-1 and online at 211Arizona.org.
Human, live-answer operators are the heart of 211 Arizona, providing compassionate support in connecting callers to resources for housing, utility assistance, food, healthcare, and more. The personalized, human interaction offered by these operators ensures that individuals receive tailored guidance, fostering trust and effectively addressing complex needs.
Without continued funding, 211 Arizona’s live-answer call center is projected to cease operations in the Fall of 2025. This would eliminate real-time, human support for Arizonans seeking urgent assistance. The loss of live-answer capability threatens to increase community vulnerability and diminish the effectiveness of crisis response efforts statewide.
Solari is pushing for Gov. Hobbs and state legislators to include $3.5 million in funding in the 2026 state budget to maintain the 211 program, otherwise Arizona will become the only state in the United States without this crucial and often life-saving service.
“Behind every 211 call is a person – a parent, a veteran, a senior, a survivor – reaching out for help,” said Solari CEO Justin Chase. “And now, more than ever, we need to reach back.”
In recent months, the demand for 211 Arizona’s services has only grown. As the state continues to face record heat, rising rent prices, and increased rates of homelessness, access to live-operator assistance is more critical than ever.
Solari is encouraging community members and advocates to contact Gov. Hobbs and state legislators to urge continued investment in 211 Arizona.
“There is no backup plan,” Chase said. “If the state walks away from 211, it’s walking away from the people who need help the most.”
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Solari Crisis & Human Services is a Tempe-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals by Inspiring Hope and empowering transformation from HOPE to HEALTH through a continuum of health care services. Solari’s vision is to be the trusted leader in improving lives and communities through human connection and innovation. Learn more at www.Solari-inc.org
211 Arizona, originally known as Community Information and Referral Services, was founded in 1964 and incorporated as a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 1979. In 2017, Solari, Inc. acquired the program, which transforms lives by linking individuals and families to vital services throughout Arizona. www.211arizona.org