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JOHN OHANIAN (CEO, 211 San Diego): So we're kind of a gateway.
Because there's 5,000 programs and services in San Diego, it can be pretty confusing,
so if you call 211 we can tell you where to go.
My name is John Ohanian, I'm the CEO of 211 San Diego.
I was a public accountant.
I did that for two or three years.
And after that I went to work for the Jewish Community Foundation here in town,
and got on the non-profit side, which I really enjoy.
It's nice to go into an organization that you know is going to help someone that day.
211 is a non-emergency number.
So it's a place that people can call that might need something anywhere from I need childcare
for my children to I'm in a serious situation: foreclosure, food crisis, other types of issues;
they're out of work, Any kind of type of help that someone needs, you can dial 211 for free,
24 hours a day and speak to a live person who is going to help you through your situation.
We receive about a quarter of a million calls every year.
And then we also get people, close to a million people that access our website every year.
So there's a lot of people looking for help.
We noticed a dramatic increase in calls last year, not only regarding housing
but food assistance calls, affordable housing related calls, employment health,
mental health, behavioral health type calls.
There's a lot of stress that's going on right now so someone who is going
through a foreclosure obviously has the financial need.
There's also a mental health need in terms of counseling services that come
up that can help someone during that kind of a period.
To be truthful, I'm not the person on the phone.
So I think it's a little easier for me I know that our specialists
who answer the calls that it's pretty intense.
From a personal standpoint, when I was 13, my parents lost their home that was foreclosed,
and I just remember feeling really bad for my parents who are in a situation,
you know if you think of the people that are calling, these are parents of children who,
there's a lot of pride, and your home is your home, and knowing that not only are they going
to lose their home but now they're going to have to tell their kids to pack up their rooms
and move, and it's just a really sad situation.
ANNOUNCER: If you're having trouble with your home loan or think you may be headed
to foreclosure, help is available.
2-1-1 San Diego can connect you with the community resources you need.
You can dial 2-1-1 or log onto KPBS-dot-org-slash-mortgage-crisis.
We're facing the mortgage crisis together.