It Is Important To Take Part in the 2020 U.S. Census
Population totals add up to federal funding, representation
Churches can fight poverty, advocate for the marginalized and strengthen our communities by doing one thing: promote participation in the 2020 Census!
What Is The 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the United States Constitution and is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency.
Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire — online, by phone or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online.
Why We Conduct This Count
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers and many others use to provide daily services, products and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2 mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the United States has counted its population since 1790.
Counting Everyone
Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau. A complete and accurate count is critical for you and your community, because the results of the 2020 Census will affect community funding, congressional representation and more.
For example, every person not counted in Dallas County would result in a loss of $15,480 in federal funding over the next decade. Just a 1 percent undercount would mean the residents of Dallas County would lose $40 million per year!
These cuts would impact government budgets for programs in:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Food Assistance
- Transportation Infrastructure
30% of Texas children under the age of 5 risk being missed by the Census, totaling almost 582,000 young kids
Based on current estimates, Texas could gain 3-4 more seats in Congress if the 2020 Census is accurate
How to Help
Go to 2020census.gov for information and tools for educating about and promoting participation on the 2020 Census.
See pdf for ways faith communities can support participation, especially in hard-to-count areas.
Published: Thursday, November 14, 2019