Residents in East Cleveland may soon be getting a text message encouraging them to complete the census. The effort is being funded by a grant aimed at making sure people complete the census—especially those considered hard-to-reach.
The grants have been focused on community groupsreaching out to immigrants, African-Americans, and Latinx populations, as well as students, renters and people who are transient.
Juan Galeano is a project consultant on the census for the Cleveland Foundation. He says Northeast Ohio Alliance for Hope has received $5,000, which it will use to send text messages to East Clevelanders encouraging them to complete the census.
“The digital divide is a problem in Cleveland and East Cleveland; there’s not the best internet service there. Sending folks text messages that have the census number that people can call to fill it out – that’s a very practical solution.”
He adds that this is even more important amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Who would have guessed this pandemic would happen? If that wasn’t available, we would probably be even more behind. Smartphones do help in some places – that’s really the main source of internet connection that many people have.”
Since March, about $150,000 has gone to non-profit groups working on the census in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties.
For more information on applying for the next round of grants, contact Juan Galeano at jgaleano@clevefdn.org, or find more information at CompleteCount.org.
