New State Budget Keeps 211 Funded and Ready to Help Southwest Michigan Families
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (July 12, 2026). United Way of Southwest Michigan is applauding the passage of Michigan's FY27 state budget, which preserves $2.95 million in continued state funding for Michigan 211. The budget process was a difficult one this year, and United Way of Southwest Michigan is glad to see the state continue to recognize 211 as an essential service for families in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties and across Michigan.
211 is a free, confidential service, available by phone, text, or online, that connects residents with real help for a wide range of everyday needs. That includes food insecurity, housing and eviction prevention, utility assistance, caretaking and childcare resources, health and mental health referrals, and much more, all day and night, 365 days a year. Locally, 211 handled 12,642 calls from Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties over the past year, connecting residents with the resources and impact partners United Way of Southwest Michigan funds throughout the region.
The funding comes as more local households than ever are struggling to make ends meet. These families are often referred to as ALICE, short for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed: households that earn above the federal poverty level but still don't make enough to cover the basics like housing, child care, food, and transportation. United Way of Southwest Michigan's most recent ALICE report, released in June, found that nearly 45,000 households across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties, about 38 percent of the region, fall into this category or below it. Read the full report at unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/michigan.
“These are our neighbors, the people who care for our kids, stock our shelves, and keep our communities running, and too many of them are one unexpected bill away from crisis,” said Anna Murphy, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. “It was a hard budget year across the state, and we're grateful that 211 came through it funded. That tells us Lansing understands what this service means for families here at home.”
United Way of Southwest Michigan is encouraging residents across the region to help spread the word about 211 as a free resource for anyone who needs it. Residents can reach 211 by dialing 2-1-1, texting their zip code to 898-211, or visiting uwsm.org/2-1-1.
State funding covers only part of what it takes to run 211. United Way of Southwest Michigan locally funds 211 alongside the state's investment, and that local funding is what keeps the service staffed, accurate, and ready to answer the call day or night. As need continues to grow across the region, so does the cost of keeping 211 strong, accurate, and well known in the community. United Way of Southwest Michigan is asking residents and businesses across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties to help strengthen and grow 211's reach and effectiveness by giving at uwsm.org/donate.
