Cambridge and the Complete Census Count

"​Growing up as an undocumented immigrant being invisible was a survival strategy. Now that my immigration status is more secure I believe it’s important to be seen, heard, and counted."- Cynthia Ordonez Salguero

During these unprecedented times, it’s difficult to focus on anything other than COVID-19. This leads even important efforts to slip through the cracks; the Census is one of them. 

Around the end of April in 2010, Cambridge’s self-response rate was 73%. This year, it was only 54%. We’ve got to get those response rates up if we want to seize this opportunity to build a better future. 

The Census is about getting the government we need

Begun in 1790, the Census is a once-every-decade effort to count every individual living in America. The data is used for three main reasons: 

• First, to draw congressional and state legislative districts. For example, between 2000 and 2010, Texas gained four Congressional seats, while New York and Ohio each lost two seats. 
• Second, to help decision-makers understand where to allocate public assistance and institutions. Billions of dollars go to programs like Head Start, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Schools, fire departments, and hospitals also benefit from funding based on Census results. 
• Finally, the data is used by businesses big and small to make decisions related to location, employee recruitment, as well as product and services they offer. 

Where nonprofits come in: the challenges to a complete count  

Unfortunately, many obstacles that prevent an accurate count are heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic we’re living through. 

Recently, the most notorious of these has been the proposed (and fortunately, rejected) citizenship question, which would have asked household members to report their citizenship or immigrant status. A 2017 study showed that just the possibility of the question stoked the fears that already existed in immigrant communities, particularly that Census data would be used to enforce deportation policies.

In reality, Title 13 protects all respondents’ private information such as name, address, Social Security Number, and telephone number from being disclosed or published. Reassuring the immigrant community there’s no citizenship question and their private information is protected under the law, could help increase response rates.

Another challenge to a complete count is directly related to COVID-19. The Census traditionally relies on Census Takers, who go door to door, and attend public events and meetings. They are trained to answer questions or concerns that may arise. As we all know, this method is no longer safe. Recently the Census Bureau released plans to resume some Census field operations in select locations. Alas, no Area Census Office is currently open in Massachusetts.

While people can fill out the Census by phone, mail, or online, these methods disadvantage lower-income respondents. Exacerbating the digital divide are the closings of libraries, schools, and other public buildings. However, there is an opportunity for potential partnerships between the Census Bureau and non-profits who have stronger connections with the communities they serve. These partnerships could offer community members the resources they need to successfully complete the Census.

To ensure our region receives fair federal representation and allocation of federal resources, we must ramp up the effort to count everyone in Cambridge. 

As previously mentioned in 2010, the Cambridge self-response rate (people who responded on their own without a census taker visiting their home) was 73% around this time. Right now it’s only 57%. Thankfully, the Self-Response Phase deadline has been pushed to October 31st, 2020.

• If you're still serving in-person, consider printing out a Census poster in the appropriate language(s). 
• If you share any social media on the Census, please let Elena know, so that CNC can help amplify your messaging. 
• YWCA Cambridge is committed to a full count in Cambridge MA. If you're interested in getting involved through phone banking or joining the YWCA Census Challenge email Whitney Mooney for more information. 

I raise these challenges and possible solutions in hopes that they spark ideas for service providers, community members, and government officials on how to increase response rates.