From June 1 through July 31, United Way of Lancaster County’s PA 211 East in-person navigation services at the Lancaster Public Library connected dozens of Lancaster County residents with critical resources, demonstrating the value of bringing trusted community support directly into one of the county’s most welcoming public spaces.
During the program’s first two months, PA 211 East served 90 unique clients through 92 in-person interactions, helping individuals and families address 174 identified needs and providing 244 referrals to community resources and support services.
The program places a PA 211 East Coordinated Entry Intake Specialist at the Lancaster Public Library to provide free, personalized assistance connecting community members with local services. Whether someone is facing a housing crisis, searching for employment, seeking food assistance, or looking for health or mental health resources, the specialist offers compassionate, one-on-one guidance to help people navigate often complex systems of care.
“Housing instability continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing our community, and these early results show just how important it is to have trusted, accessible places where people can receive help,” said Kate Zimmerman, President & CEO of United Way of Lancaster County. “The library is already a welcoming space for so many neighbors, making it the perfect place to connect people with the resources they need to take the next step forward.”
Housing-related concerns represented the greatest area of need during the program’s first two months, accounting for 65 requests. Residents also sought assistance with employment (13), information services (13), individual, family and community support (12), food and meals (11), clothing and household needs (11), transportation (9), legal and consumer services (8), health care (6), mental health and substance use services (6), utilities (6), volunteer opportunities and donations (5), income support (4), education (3), disaster services (1), and other government and economic services (1).
The partnership between United Way of Lancaster County and the Lancaster Public Library reflects a shared commitment to making essential services more accessible. By embedding a PA 211 East Coordinated Entry Intake Specialist in a trusted community space, residents can receive personalized support before challenges become crises.
“211 at the library just makes sense. Neighbors seeking to expand their knowledge and imagination through books are not much different from those connecting to resources for stability or support during times of personal crisis,” said Patricia Espinosa-Vargas, Director of PA 211 East. “At our core, 211 Resource Navigators are knowledge experts. We exist to share that knowledge so our neighbors can thrive. Where better to do that than the library?”
Rather than navigating a complex network of agencies alone, visitors receive personalized support to identify available resources, understand eligibility requirements, and connect with organizations best equipped to meet their needs.
The PA 211 East Coordinated Entry Intake Specialists are available at the Lancaster Public Library on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and services are free and confidential.
Neighbors can also connect with PA 211 East 24 hours a day by dialing 2-1-1, texting their ZIP code to 898-211, or visiting pa211east.org.