Food, housing and utility needs reported to 2-1-1s in October 2020 were sharply higher than totals from October 2019.
Year-over-year changes: October 2019 to 2020
![](https://hcrl.wustl.edu/files/2020/11/Oct-2019-2020-e1604625352330-350x233.png)
Food, housing and utility needs reported to 2-1-1s in October 2020 were sharply higher than totals from October 2019.
Requests for holiday meals, COVID-19 services, and clothing grew fastest in October. COVID-19 requests to 2-1-1, which include those seeking information about testing, jumped by 73% in October. Clothing needs grew by 30%. But the biggest October increase was in requests for holiday meals at 153%.
California wildfires pushed 2-1-1 call volume back near peak levels set in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic. A closer look at 2-1-1 requests during the CZU fire showed a dramatic increase in disaster-related calls seeking assistance with housing and shelter.