HELP Act of 2026

(a) Eligibility. An entity is eligible to be selected as the administering agency under this section if such entity is an organization that—

(1) is described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;

(2) has experience working with, and providing technical assistance to, 211 service providers;

(3) has established relationships with local, community-based organizations in each State; and

(4) has experience in disaster response and Federal grants management (and the infrastructure required to manage such grants).

(b) Duties of administering agency. The duties of the administering agency shall be—

(1) with respect to the purpose specified in section 2(a)(1)—

(A) to advise the Secretary on, and make recommendations to, the Secretary with respect to State allotments from amounts made available under section 6, including the amount of each State allotment;

(B) to determine the amount of funding, on a State-by-State basis, using the amount of each such State allotment, to be made available to each of the qualified 211 service entities in such State; and

(C) to award grants to such qualified 211 service entities in each State under section 4;

(2) beginning with calendar year 2026 and not less frequently than once every 5 calendar years thereafter, to submit to the Secretary an evaluation of the network of 211 service providers throughout the United States that is conducted in accordance with subsection (d);

(3) beginning with calendar year 2026 and each calendar year thereafter, to submit to the Secretary the report under subsection (d);

(4) with respect to the purpose specified in section 2(a)(2), to increase coordination among 211 service providers, 911 service providers, 988 service providers, and other entities providing similar services; and

(5) with respect to the purpose specified in section 2(a)(3), to develop and implement a public awareness campaign that—

(A) educates the public with respect to the purpose, function, and use of 211 services; and

(B) ensures consistent messaging and branding across 211 service providers.

(c) Shared data platforms. The administering agency may use funds reserved under section 6 to support shared data platforms, including with respect to the integration or sharing of 211 resource and service-level data.

(d) Application. An eligible entity seeking to be selected as the administering agency under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application not less frequently than once every 10 years, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including the following:

(1) How the eligible entity intends to—

(A) meet the goal of ensuring that every individual in the United States with phone or internet service can connect to 211 services at no charge; and

(B) meet the goal of ensuring availability, throughout each State, of 211 information and referral services with respect to health and human services.

(2) Information about the manner in which the entity will—

(A) select qualified 211 service entities to receive a grant (or subgrant) under this Act;

(B) develop, sustain, and evaluate the 211 services provided in the United States and work to ensure sufficient 211 service provider capacity for answering and responding to calls to 211;

(C) provide for increased coordination between 211, 911, and 988 systems and other entities providing similar services to divert calls to mental health and human services responders who can assist individuals and link individuals with voluntary, community-based services, as appropriate; and

(D) use annual 211 operational data to inform the eligible entity’s approach to assessing the program and establishing oversight metrics.

(3) A certification that the entity will take all steps necessary to ensure that all activities and information provided by the qualified 211 service entities receiving grants (or eligible 211 service provider receiving a subgrant) pursuant to this Act will be directly accessible for purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), and part 1194 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

(e) Evaluation and reports

(1) Evaluation

(A) In general. The administering agency shall award a contract to an independent entity to conduct the evaluation specified in subsection (b)(2).

(B) Content. The evaluation under subsection (b)(2) shall address—

(i) barriers to access to 211 services;

(ii) effectiveness of 211 services at connecting individuals to needed health and human services;

(iii) the effectiveness of collaborations among 211, 988, and 911 systems, and other entities providing similar services;

(iv) the comprehensiveness of the information in the 211 databases;

(v) public awareness of 211 services; and

(vi) user satisfaction with 211 services.

(2) Report. The administering agency shall submit to the Secretary a report on the program carried out under this section, with information disaggregated by State and by each eligible 211 service provider, which shall—

(A) describe the activities or services funded through a grant by each qualified 211 service entity receiving such a grant (or each eligible 211 service provider receiving a subgrant);

(B) assess the effectiveness of such activities and services in making available, to all residents of the State, 211 services for information and referrals with respect to health and human services;

(C) assess the effectiveness of collaboration with resource and referral entities and service providers; and

(D) describe the services to which individuals were referred by eligible 211 service providers receiving funding under this Act and any efforts to track the effectiveness of such referrals.