DES MOINES, Iowa — United Way of Central Iowa’s 2-1-1 hotline is a 24/7 hotline that connects callers with community services they need.

Erin Davison-Rippey, United Way of Central Iowa’s Senior Community Impact Officer, said that thousands of Iowans will be affected by the government shutdown.

“Thousands of Iowans potentially are going to be impacted directly by this shutdown and many more indirectly,” Davison-Rippey said.

Davison-Rippey said that she expects furloughed federal workers to call the hotline.

“What we see currently is that some of the most needed services as folks are calling into 211 are things like housing and utilities, food, transportation, those really essential services that folks need to navigate their day to day lives. And as we think about, you know, who will be impacted most critically by a government shutdown, again, those folks that are living paycheck to paycheck really are the folks that are going to need services sooner than others,” Davison-Rippey said.

To learn more about the 2-1-1 hotline visit United Way’s website