October 14, 2021
Contact: PRelations@UnitedWayCG.com
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia is committing $175,000 to the United Way of Central Georgia to create 2-1-1 Mobile, a six-month pilot initiative that ensures Macon-Bibb County residents have access to rental and utility assistance, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations and other recovery resources. 2-1-1 Mobile will consist of a van, equipped with technology and Wi-Fi access, that visits Macon’s Beall’s Hill, Mill Hill and Pleasant Hill neighborhoods to assist residents with the application process for rental and utility assistance and other benefits.
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare gaps in access to transportation, technology, housing, food resources and life-saving vaccines for underserved communities to ensure equitable access for all Macon-Bibb residents, the United Way of Central Georgia partnered with Knight Foundation to create a neighborhood-based mobile strategy.
"I want to give my sincerest thanks to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and Lynn Murphey, Knight’s Macon program director, for this incredible opportunity to expand our 2-1-1 program from a virtual environment to a boots on the ground outreach,” said George McCanless, President & CEO of United Way of Central Georgia. “In many cases, the resources exist but community members have trouble accessing them. With this support, Knight is helping meet the needs of so many in our community.2-1-1 Mobile will allow us to go directly into our neighborhoods and provide face-to-face navigation. This is critically needed right now as we try to assist so many families that are threatened with eviction but have struggled to file for the relief funds that are available. With our 2-1-1 Mobile van and our team of Eileen Straws, Ruby Roberts and Pastor Horace Holmes, those families now have someone that will be right there with them to make sure their application is complete.”
Macon Bibb’s vaccination rate (at 42% as of October 13, 2021) lags behind national averages. The state of Georgia currently has a 49% vaccination rate. Challenges with access to information around the vaccine likely contribute to the low adoption rate. Additionally, there are significant local concerns around Macon-Bibb residents not taking full advantage of COVID recovery resources – again, due to lack of access and information.
“The concept of 2-1-1- Mobile is all about meeting people where they are,” said Lynn Murphey, Knight program director for Macon. “Knight’s investments in Macon aim to help build a more inclusive urban core and an informed and engaged community. COVID-19 recovery offers a unique opportunity for Knight to expand our impact and ensure that all Maconites have access to resources like rental assistance and COVID-19 vaccines. We consider this a very important step in helping the community move forward in such a difficult time. We’re thrilled to support this project.”
By taking these services directly into neighborhoods, 2-1-1 mobile aims to significantly increase vaccination rates and the deployment of government funds and wraparound services to the local populations who need it the most. Furthermore, increased vaccination rates and increased value of COVID financial resources will benefit Macon-Bibb residents Thereafter, the service will be extended throughout the community.
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About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
We are social investors who support democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once had newspapers. Learn more at kf.org and follow @knightfdn on social media.