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History

2-1-1 Brevard started as a grassroots volunteer organization dedicated to providing support and assistance to individuals and families impacted by mental illness. Innovation and responsiveness to community need have been hallmarks of the organization since its inception.

The agency was instrumental in starting one of Florida's first teen and suicide hotlines, which soon expanded in scope in response to community need. Recognizing that callers frequently needed ongoing services, phone counselors began collecting and maintaining information on local social services organizations and programs.

In the early 1980's, this information became part of the area's first comprehensive database of community services.

In 2001, the organization became the first in Florida and the seventh in the nation to implement the 2-1-1 dialing code following  the FCC ruling designating the number for accessing information on local services. That same year, 2-1-1 Brevard began serving as the lead agency for the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

During the fall 2004 hurricane season, the value of 2-1-1 was emphasized as the helpline handled over 30,000 phone calls from area residents preparing for, riding out and recovering from hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne.  2-1-1 served as the intake point for long-term recovery services in addition to providing access to a web-based case management system shared by private and public recovery programs.  When hurricane Wilma blew through in 2005, 2-1-1 was ready again to link residents to critical information.

We are proud of our history and look forward to continuing our traditions of responsiveness and innovation.

For more information, click to see our history, staff, or employment pages.

P.O. Box 417
Cocoa, FL 32923-0417

Dial 2-1-1 or 321.632.6688
321.631.9290 Bus Phone
321.631.9291 Fax

Why 2-1-1?
Access to emergency police and fire services through the "911" telephone number is nearly universal and an indispensable service. Telephone directory assistance available by dialing "411", is another service we have come to depend upon. However, thousands of individuals and families search every day for emergency financial assistance, food or shelter. Looking for help means finding dozens of phone numbers and then searching through a confusing maze of agencies and services.

For those who want to give back to the community through volunteerism, the challenges are similar. 2-1-1 simplifies these challenges and allows callers to find or give help by dialing one easy to remember number.