In April 2022, Minnesota State and Greater Twin Cities United Way launched a system-wide basic needs resource hub. This hub leverages United Way’s 211 resource helpline to connect Minnesota State students to resources in their community and on their campus to help them meet their basic needs and focus on their education. This is on the heels of when the Greater Twin Cities United Way announced a new “211 Hope Starts Here Fund” in January 2021.

Donations fund United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline which is staffed by resource specialists 24 hours a day who provide callers guidance, information, and referrals to statewide housing-related resources such as emergency shelter; rent, mortgage and utilities assistance; legal support, and more.

For some students who face challenges meeting their basic needs, such as food and housing, it can be a tremendously challenging time.

This resource helpline is a free and confidential state-wide service in which trained Community Resource Specialists connect students to a broad range of information and referrals, including food, housing, child care, mental health, and substance abuse resources, and more.

Students of Minnesota State can contact 211 via phone, text, or the website, United Way's Community Resource Specialists will be able to identify them as students and provide information and referrals to services available on their campus and in their community.

Maya Bledsoe, Student Basic Needs Coordinator at Minnesota West said “With the ease of access being an important factor of getting students the help they need when they are facing basic needs issues, the new partnership with United Way 211 makes getting help and guidance to the different resources available to students as easy as sending a text. The hope is that students are able to fully utilize this partnership to find the resources they need for the challenges of basic needs they are facing so that they can focus on furthering their education and obtaining the degrees they set out to get without the added stress and worries that come with basic needs insecurity issues.”

This partnership represents the first time Greater Twin Cities United Way's 211 resource helpline has been used to support post-secondary students. Minnesota State’s partnership with United Way’s 211 resource helpline was initially established through a one-time legislative appropriation to Minnesota State to help address basic needs insecurity experienced by Minnesota State students.

Devinder Malhotra, chancellor, of Minnesota State said “Increasingly, meeting basic needs, such as food, housing, transportation, childcare, emergency financial support, technology access, and access to mental health resources, has been impacting our students’ ability to succeed in school, and the COVID pandemic has made the problem worse. Partnering with United Way’s 211 resource helpline is one of many innovative solutions we are implementing to connect students with the help they need to overcome these challenges and achieve their academic goals. It is an important part of our work towards Equity 2030: our goal of eliminating educational equity gaps at every Minnesota State college and university by 2030.”