Census 2010
Census 2010
What’s at Stake for Black communities and What ABFE Members Can Do
The best evidence from the 2000 Census suggests that Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians were undercounted at significantly higher rates than Non-Hispanic whites.
What is the Census?
- The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years.
- The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
- The next census is in 2010.
- Participation in the census is required by law.
- It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
- Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census.
- Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.
Urgency of Census 2010 for Black Communities
Good decisions are based on good data and a hallmark for solid grantmaking work is using sound scientific data to advocate—and build strategies—for improving the lives of people in Black communities.
The backbone of the federal statistical system is the Decennial Census. Virtually all federal agencies (and private companies) use the Census figures to benchmark their surveys and many federal agencies rely on data from the Census to calculate policy-related measures
An incomplete and/or inaccurate Decennial Census will compromise the ability to effectively craft good policy choices.
The Decennial Census is important for several reasons including:
1) It underlies the key democratic principle of distributing political representation based on population. It is constitutionally mandated for apportioning congress, and Census data are used to meet the one person-one vote law mandated by the courts. Census data are also used to enforce the federal Voting Rights Act. A difference of only a few thousand people in the 2010 Census count could determine which state gets (or keeps) a congressional seat and which state loses that seat.
2) It is used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds each year and most of these programs target low-income communities and vulnerable families. Census data are also used to distribute millions of dollars of state funds. If jurisdictions are undercounted in the Census it means they are not receiving their fair share of resources and it is an inequity that will be in place for a decade.
3) Census data are widely used by government agencies, the private sector, and non-profit groups to assess trends and target activities and programs. Accurate Census data help make programs more efficient and effective.
4) Census data provide the most comprehensive snapshot for each of the thousands of local communities across our nation. It is one of the few sources of information that allow us to compare neighborhoods across the country.
Challenges for Census 2010
For more than 60 years, evidence from the Census Bureau has shown that marginalized and disadvantaged groups such as racial minorities and low-income communities are the most likely to be undercounted. The Census Bureau faces increased challenges achieving a full and complete count in the 2010 Decennial Census.
There are a number of reasons why the challenges of getting a complete and accurate count in the 2010 Census will be even more daunting. These include:
• A housing market that will leave many families living in unconventional shelter at the time of the census (homeless, families doubling up, temporary or short-term accommodations etc) which makes counting more difficult. Since the Census asks people to be counted at their “usual place of residence,” any factors that contribute to uncertainty about where people live can have a negative impact on census counts.
• An increase in many hard-to-count population groups. For example, there are an estimated 13 million undocumented immigrants in the country and the number increased by 40 percent since 2000. In addition, millions of people who are living in the U.S. legally reside in a household with an undocumented person and they are likely to shrink from Census takers. There are about 4 million children living in households with one or more undocumented adults.
• A large Federal budget deficit (in contrast ten years ago when the federal government was running a budget surplus) will make getting needed funding more of a challenge.
• State and local governments (with budget problems of their own) won’t be able to devote as much money this census cycle as they did last time. For example, California State Government provided $25 million to promote the 2000 Census but will only be able to give a couple of million dollars this cycle.
• Survey response rates have continued to fall as concerns about privacy, security, and confidentiality have increased.
• In the post 9/11 era there is unprecedented fear of government in immigrant communities. Much of the rhetoric around the failed attempt at immigration reform has only amplified concerns in immigrant neighborhoods.
• Growth in language minorities – today there are at least 24 million people who are likely to have problems with English (they say English is not their primary language and don’t speak English very well).
What can ABFE Members-Grantmakers do?
Grantmakers can play an important role in the effort to make sure every person in low-income and minority communities is counted in the 2010 Decennial Census. They can also work with civic leaders in low-income communities to make sure residents are aware of the importance of the Census (political power and money) and the safety of responding to census takers. Each additional person counted in the Census represents roughly $12,000 over ten years that will come into a community through federal funding formulas.
One study which looked at just the eight federal programs (Medicaid, Foster Care, Rehabilitation Services Basic Support, Child Care and Development Block Grant, Social Services, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, Adoption Assistance and Vocation Education Basic Grants) estimated that undercounts in the 2000 Census resulted in the misallocation of $4 billion a year among the states.
The best evidence from the 2000 Census suggests that Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians were undercounted at significantly higher rates than Non-Hispanic whites. Also children, especially those under age 10, were undercounted at a high rate. Moreover, the reduction in the net undercount in 2000 compared to 1990 may be the result of more over counting, rather than a more inclusive census.
Grantmakers can use their influence to improve the Census count. They can leverage existing staff expertise and investments to make sure low-income communities get counted accurately, and they can provide funds to bolster on-going efforts to get a complete and accurate census count. Suggested activities for grantmakers:
1. Provide a voice for low-income communities within Census planning and operations processes.
2. Work with other grantmakers and NGOs to increase awareness of the importance of the 2010 Census.
3. Mobilize low-income communities
For more information on the 2010 Census please visit 2010.census.gov or contact Sharon Toomer at stoomer@abfe.org.
With permission, the information above was provided by William O’Hare, Ph.D,,of The Anne E. Casey Foundation.
(Source: William O’Hare, 2010.census.gov)