Did you know the next decennial Census is set to begin April 1, 2020, and that it is vital that everyone is counted for proper distribution of federal money, representation in congress, and more?
Council on Aging is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Complete Count Committee, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the census and working to ensure that as many area residents are counted as possible. This includes some of the populations served by Council on Aging and other social service organizations: racial and ethnic minorities, low-income people, people with mental and physical disabilities, and more.
Given that it’s been 10 years since the last count, we’d like to offer a Census facts refresher:
- The Census counts every person living in the U.S. once, and in the right place.
- The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years. The first Census was in 1790.
- The distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities is based on Census data. That money is spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.
- Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.
- After each decade’s Census, state officials redraw the boundaries of the congressional and state legislative districts in their states to account for population shifts.
- Completing the Census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say “I count!”
- Your privacy is protected. It’s against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with any other government agency.
- For the first time in 2020, you will be able to respond to the Census online, as well as by mail or phone.
For more information about the Census, visit 2020census.gov.