To get the pulse of the economic situation in Northwest Washington, consider the hot line that takes calls for every problem from unemployment to hunger : 2-1-1.
The phone line sponsored by United Way and Volunteers for America takes in calls and refers people to various safety net services such as the Department of Social and Health Services and area food banks.
Calls are going up altogether, but 2-1-1 Program Director Bill Brackin said looking at the types of calls can indicate some trends in specific regions. Brackin oversees the program in Skagit, Snohomish, Island, Whatcom and San Juan counties.
In Skagit County, callers are asking for housing assistance and utilities more than other services. Calls regarding housing and utilities peaked in July, with 15.8 percent of callers asking for rent and mortgage assistance, 15.8 percent asking for utility bill assistance and 10.5 percent asking for emergency shelter.
Those numbers dipped briefly in August and September, but rent and mortgage calls are back on the rise again.
Brackin said each county behaves differently. Unemployment poses a larger problem in Snohomish County.
“In Snohomish it’s clear that we’re seeing a huge impact from unemployment,” Brackin said. “I’m not sure if we’re seeing it in Skagit yet.”
But he expects every region in the state will see more calls related to unemployment and housing. The agency has been receiving more calls for the past three years.
Program operators received 2,024 calls in 2007, up 400 calls, or 26.7 percent, from 2006.
Brackin said the numbers are steadily increasing in 2008, and he expects the year to end with more calls than in 2007. From September to January this year, operators received 1,565 calls, up by 64 calls compared to the period in 2007.
United Way first developed a 2-1-1 line in Atlanta in 1997. Since then, Washington established a 2-1-1 program in 2001. Similar services are provided in 41 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
Aaron Burkhalter can be reached at 360-416-2141 or .
