Detroit Among Hard-to-Count Cities Ahead of Census
There is a looming cloud of urgency hanging over our city government that affects us all. Why? The challenge is that for Detroiters the upcoming 2020 Census is not perceived as important by local residents. There are many reasons that the upcoming 2020 Census is either not top of mind or deemed not necessary to be counted, from conspiracy theories of governmental “Big Brother” oversight to lack of education about what is affected by the count.
Indifference and miseducation are not the only things that are crippling the city of Detroit from being accurately counted according to a recent analysis by the Associated Press that states, “About 86 percent of Detroit’s population lives in hard-to-count neighborhoods, by far the largest proportion of any major U.S. city. The city has tens of thousands of vacant houses, sparse internet access, and high poverty — factors that will make it the toughest community to tally.”
In the last Census in 2010, the City of Detroit had the biggest decline in response rates of any major city in the U.S. – going from a 70 percent response rate in 2000 to 64 percent ten years later. Getting people to fill out the form is critical to a more successful and accurate count.
Recognizing the layers of possible complications for the city of Detroit in not having an accurate count, Mayor Mike Duggan appointed Victoria Kovari as executive director for the Detroit 2020 Census campaign, “Get Counted Detroit 2020.” The campaign launched at the beginning of this year with videos from local Detroiters urging people to be counted, including rapper Kash Doll who participated in the campaign.
“The best person to get residents to fill out a form isn’t necessarily the government. It’s people they trust. It’s people they know,” said Mayor Duggan.
To get to hard-to-reach people, Kovari, has a three-point plan:
- Recruit neighborhood ambassadors.
- Hire paid canvassers.
- Educate and motivate.
In addition to the noted obstacles and challenges, this census introduces the ability to submit online as the preferred submission option. The introduction of online submissions would normally be viewed as a bonus; however, this is more of a concern as 30 percent of Detroit households do not have internet access.
While many may view the challenges as overwhelming providing an educational component is the first step into ensuring that all of Detroit is counted in the upcoming census.
What is the Census 2020?
Census counts everybody regardless of immigration status, income or the type of housing including those living in prisons, college dorms, shelters or outdoors. Children living in foster care or with grandparents are counted where they live and sleep most of the time as of April 1. The Census determines the allocation of $1.5 trillion in federal spending and decides which states gain or lose congressional seats.
Why is the 2020 Census Important?
Detroit’s Census 2020 Be Counted Campaign says it best: if you count on health care, be counted. If you count on education, be counted. If you count on food assistance, be counted. If you count on roads, be counted. Ultimately, everyone in the city of Detroit is affected by the 2020 Census and it’s your civic duty as it is with voting to make your count matter. The city gets an estimated $3 billion a year in federal funding for critical programs used every day by our family, friends and neighbors. Since 1970, the State of Michigan and City of Detroit lost five congressional seats and electoral college votes and is at risk of losing one congressional seat next year. A declining voice in congress equals a decline in Detroit’s voice being heard and the ability to effect change in our quality of life.
“There is nothing more important, no higher priority, than reaching the hard to count,” Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham told lawmakers last summer.
However, Detroit resident, Jason Thrope, is very hesitant about government funding trickling down to the parts of the city that need it the most. “I participated in both censuses; however, I am yet to see any real funding in the inner-city neighborhoods of Detroit. There seems to be a steady decline, and I know I personally haven’t benefited.”
What’s Next?
We need to get more than 70 percent of Detroiters to self-respond to the Census (fill out the form) if we are to have any chance at a decent population count. The national response rate in 2010 was 74 percent and in Michigan, it was 78 percent.
- Census is available online, by phone or in paper form (this will be the first online census with the website going live in mid-March). The citizenship question is still in the Supreme Court waiting for a final decision. If you miss answering a question on the census form, you will still be able to submit it, and, it won’t invalidate your form.
- The census form is short; it only takes 10 minutes to determine Detroit’s population for the next 10 years.
- The count begins mid-March of next year.
- The National Count Day is April 1, 2020.
- The count ends mid-July 2020.
How to Get Involved?
Volunteer
- Host a Census sign up event for people in the neighborhood, at local businesses.
- Volunteer at city sign up events.
- Ask local businesses to put up posters and cards for customers.
Influence
- Tweet, share, spread the word about the Census with family, friends or colleagues.
- Help neighbors without a computer or internet access sign up online.
Apply for a Job
- Work for the US Census Bureau! Go to census.gov/jobs to apply.
For more information visit www.detroitmi.gov/census.
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