An effort is under way to develop the use of 211 as a national code the public can dial to access health and social services information. It would be similar to 911 but isn't intended for use in an emergency.

The California Alliance of Information and Referral Services (CAIRS) last month submitted to the state Public Utilities Commission a petition that, if approved, would establish the framework for 211 service.

"It's an easy-to-remember single number," said Allan Friedman, chairman of the 211 steering committee. "People don't have to go searching for an 800 number. It eliminates the guesswork."

Organizers hope 211 will pop into people's minds if they want to know about food programs in their area or where they can volunteer or make donations.

The Federal Communications Commission last year designated 211 as the universal number for community resources, but the code must be implemented across 80 percent of the country by 2005 or the FCC will reassign the number.

The number has been in use for four years in the Atlanta area and in Connecticut, as well as other communities.

In California, the Public Utilities Commission has six months to respond to CAIRS' request, which calls for statewide standards implemented at the county level, said Trina Horner, telecommunications adviser to the PUC president.

The technical start-up cost of 211 in California would be about $2.5 million, which includes hardware and software but does not include staff to answer the phones, said Burt Wallrich, statewide coordinator of the 211 effort. The cost to operate 211 would vary by community from $50,000 to $200,000 a year.

Wallrich said organizers are not depending on state funding for the project but will try to secure grants.

He said supporters hope to have some 211 service areas, including in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, up and running by spring.

Most counties in California already have an information referral system in place, but 211 organizers hope to make those systems more uniform and to expand them.

For example, InfoLine Sacramento operates a seven-digit hotline, (916) 498-1000. When people call InfoLine, a trained specialist assesses the caller's needs and finds the most appropriate community resources to help them.

InfoLine's database includes more than 1,900 services in Sacramento -- ranging from housing to financial assistance to food. Specialists give callers up to three listings of resources in their neighborhood.

The 211 number would help more people by offering information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, organizers say.

"We have evidence of people calling after hours and calling on weekends," said Lynn Pesely, program manager of InfoLine Sacramento. "We are currently missing those calls."

InfoLine helps about 36,000 callers annually, but organizers say, if 211 comes to California, they could expect call volumes to increase by about 40 percent. InfoLine is making a pitch to run the 211 service for the Sacramento region.

Atlanta has seen a steady increase in the number of calls its 211 service handles. Last year, 288,000 people dialed the 211 number. This year, they expect to help 300,000 callers.

Chris Allers, vice president of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, said 211 is a quick way to help people who may be in a crisis.

"Time is not their friend," Allers said.

He said the use of 211 shaves days off a person's search for the right resource.

Pesely said establishment of 211 service could also help reduce the number of non-emergency calls to 911.

The service would be free to callers, and organizers are exploring whether it could be free from a pay phone in California. Connecticut does not charge pay-phone users.

Sharon DeCray, CAIRS president, said the community's needs are great and are likely to grow as the population increases.

She said, "211 will help eliminate the barriers that exist between people and the services that they are entitled to receive."

The Bee's Gwendolyn Crump can be reached at (916) 321-1137 or gcrump@sacbee.com.