PROVIDING THE RIGHT HELP AT THE RIGHT TIME
Report to the Community 2024-2025
United Way of Greater Cleveland’s 211 helpline is both a lifeline in moments of crisis and a gateway to opportunity.
This year, our free and confidential service answered more than 226,000 calls, connecting callers to local experts for:
- food, housing, and utility assistance
- prescription cost savings
- veterans’ support
- workforce development
- and much more
At its core, 211 not only provides the right help at the right time but also links individuals and families to opportunities that foster resilience, stability, and lasting financial security.
ONE CALL CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
“The one call that changed everything for me is the story of a woman who called who needed help with her rent. She didn’t have money to get to a job interview, so we connected her with transportation.
A couple of weeks later, she told me she had gotten the job, and she was able to catch up on her rent. That reminds me on a daily basis of the significance of the work we are doing here.”
-Michelle Snowden
United Way of Greater Cleveland Navigation Service
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO ACCURATE, UP-TO-DATE RESOURCES
Calls to 211 for disaster relief increased by 39% during the storms of August 2024.
Following last summer’s storms, which brought five tornadoes, left 400,000 without power, and led to a state of emergency, calls to 211 surged nearly 700%. 211 Navigators not only answered those calls, but also updated nearly 500 resources, coordinated with 80 agencies, and supported the City of Cleveland’s 311 line.
Residents sought help finding food, charging stations, Wi-Fi, medical support, and later, resources to replace spoiled goods and access SNAP benefits. By tracking needs in real time and sharing data with officials, 211 helped direct relief to the hardest-hit communities, ensuring pantries and support services met urgent demand.
The August storms proved 211’s critical role: adapting quickly, collaborating broadly, and providing trusted information when people need it most. When the power was restored, many residents’ food had perished. Individuals with fixed monthly food budgets, including those on SNAP, had no funds left to replenish their food.
By pinpointing neighborhoods with the sharpest rise in food assistance calls, United Way 211 equipped officials with the insight to act quickly. In response, Cuyahoga County Council allocated additional resources to local pantries, ensuring families could recover after the storm.
CONNECTING FAMILIES TO CRITICAL RESOURCES
Over 168,000 households, which included 118,000 children, received vital food assistance.
United Way of Greater Cleveland administers the Cuyahoga County Emergency Food Program, funded by Health and Human Services levy, in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Hunger Network. This program provides critical support to food pantries across the county, supplying protein and dairy such as meat, poultry, eggs, milk, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. When households lose food during emergencies like power outages, this program helps them restock.
In addition, United Way administers the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) in Cuyahoga and Geauga counties, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Our EFSP Advisory Board brings together consumers, advocates, and social service providers to guide resources where they are needed most.
