SAN DIEGO —— Effective Thursday, a new public information telephone line will begin operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Officials have been working for more two years to create the "211" information line. The line, which is already operating in 26 other states, is a one-stop, multilingual hotline where people can get information ranging from where to get shelter to how to get vaccinations to where to get hospice services for an ailing parent or loved one.

City, county and social services officials say people now are faced with a maze of more than 200 help telephone lines for myriad services. Law enforcement officials also hope the new telephone line will reduce overload on the 911 emergency lines when disasters threaten San Diego County.

The 211 line began operating in an experimental, part-time basis in February.

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