Short answer
In North Dakota, dial 211 for food, shelter, heat, and referrals. FirstLink answers 211 for the entire state and for Clay County, Minnesota, and publishes 701-235-7335 if 211 does not connect. It is free, confidential, and not police dispatch. For danger, call 911.
The facts, in one place
- Dial 211. Backup number: 701-235-7335.
- Text your zip code to 898-211 for resources.
- FirstLink also answers 988 for North Dakota.
- 211 is not police dispatch.
How to reach 211 here
Dial 211. If 211 does not connect, FirstLink publishes 701-235-7335 (701-235-SEEK). Text your zip code to 898-211 for resource text-back. Website: myfirstlink.org. FirstLink is the 211 provider for the entire state of North Dakota and for Clay County, Minnesota.
- 24/7 information and referral, plus supportive listening.
- 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — FirstLink answers 988 for North Dakota and parts of western Minnesota. Call or text 988.
- 211 is not police dispatch. 911 remains 911.
- Help Me is not a 211 client portal. We send you here.
What to call 211 for
You need a pantry, a shelter bed, help with heat, a county office, or you need a human to help you name the next door. They keep a database of nonprofit and government programs. That is their job. It is a better job than asking a matched stranger to become a caseworker.
Cass County still exists
211 will often send Fargo and West Fargo callers toward Cass County Human Services for benefits. That is correct. Open the Cass County resource page if you already know you need the Annex at 1010 2nd Ave. S.
Where Help Me fits
Help Me is not a 211 client portal. It sends you here for anything that is not a small favor.
Helpers can apply to be reviewed by our team. Help Me does not run background checks. Help Me is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Questions people actually ask
No. 211 is FirstLink. Help Me support is support@helpme.fyi for the app. Emergencies are 911.
Yes. West Fargo is in North Dakota. Dial 211.
Yes. It is a free, confidential information and referral service.
Keep going
- 211211 in Minnesota — including MoorheadDial 211 in Minnesota for health and human services. United Way 211 at 211unitedway.org. FirstLink answers 211 in Clay County. Not Help Me.
- Cass CountyCass County resources (North Dakota)Cass County Human Services, 911, 211, and North Dakota help for Fargo and West Fargo. Clay County programs do not copy-paste here.
- housingHomeless services — call official programs, not a neighbor appOfficial shelter and housing help in Fargo–Moorhead: 211, Churches United, New Life Center, Gladys Ray, YWCA. Help Me is not a shelter.
- foodFood assistance — official pantries and benefits, not an app requestFood help in Fargo–Moorhead: 211, SNAP through your county, Great Plains Food Bank, pantries, and meal sites. Help Me is not a food program.
- crisisMental health help — official crisis lines, not a neighbor chatMental-health crisis in Fargo–Moorhead: 988, 911 if in danger, FirstLink, campus counseling. Help Me is not a crisis line or a therapist.
- emergencyEmergencies: 911, then the right local deskCall 911 in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth. Campus police and 211 are next. Help Me is not emergency response.
Help Me is a community app for adults in Fargo–Moorhead. It is not a K–12 student program, not a youth chat, and not campus police.