Nonprofit wants local groups to help people complete 2020 census
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Dogwood Health Trust is working to make sure everyone in Western North Carolina fills out a 2020 census. Each person counted in the census has a direct impact on federal funds provided to the area over the next 10 years.
Officials with the trust, which was created from the net proceeds of the sale of Mission Hospital, said the nonprofit is providing financial incentives to groups that can help increase the count.
"We've been calling people up and signing people up, and, you know, of course, there are people that don't participate. And we just try and talk to them about the true value and then let them make up their mind," Spring Creek Community Center Board Member Alice McVey said.
Dogwood Health Trust is partnering with almost all of the 18 WNC counties and a growing number of community nonprofit organizations to reach communities that have been historically undercounted.
According to a George Washington University study, every person counted during the 2020 census in North Carolina brings in more than $4,000 in federal program dollars each year. This would translate into approximately $3.6 billion for the region if everyone responded. This potential funding over the next decade provides services like public schools, early childhood education, food access, Medicare, Medicaid, small business supports, agriculture and infrastructure projects. Census participation also impacts the number of seats in Congress; planning and funding for community needs like roads, schools, emergency services, and youth programs; and economic development and jobs.
“Western North Carolina has historically been undercounted in the census and 2020 is no exception,” Jackie Simms, chair of the programs and grants committee at Dogwood Health Trust, said in a news release. “Completing the census is safe, easy and convenient. It takes less than 10 minutes and can be done via the computer, mobile phone, telephone or paper form. We want to partner with county governments and organizations in our region to build on the great work they’ve already been doing and bring it over the finish line to help them succeed in drawing more federal dollars to their communities!”
Dogwood Health Trust is providing participating WNC counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with an incentive of $1,000 for every full percentage point increase in census self-reporting from June 26 through Oct. 31, with a 30-point cap. Mini-grants of up to $2,500 are also available to each county to assist with their census marketing and outreach efforts.
Dogwood Health Trust also seeks to work with nonprofit partner organizations that have the networks to activate and mobilize census participation. These include partners who have broad reach and relationships with communities that are historically undercounted, especially those of color and/or communities in remote locations. Partner organizations have the ability to communicate directly with individual households and walk them through census completion, and are willing to keep an accurate record of the number of people counted through their outreach efforts. For every individual counted, Dogwood will provide a $10 per person incentive.
Organizations that fit this description should contact census@dht.org.
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