The 2020 Census is around the corner in April and local government is working hard to prepare. Census results help determine how $675 billion dollars of federal funding flows into states and communities each year. The results also determine how many seats in Congress each state will get.

The U.S. Census Bureau has counted the countries’ population every 10 years since 1790. This count is mandated by the constitution as it shapes many different aspects of our communities.

With the next census set for April 1st, Orange County Commissioner Renee Price says it’s crucial for everyone to be counted, even babies, so North Carolina can receive the proper government funding.

‘The money that we get from the federal and state government is dependent on the number of people we count and how they are counted,” Price said “Getting some of the socioeconomic information about them, the demographics, so we can take advantage of those funds when needed – such as the child nutrition programs we have in schools – that’s dependent on census.”

2020 is the first year the census will be available online, making it easier than ever to fill out the ten-question form. Additionally, because the county knows not everyone has easy access to internet, there will also be twelve ‘be counted’ sites.

“We know that there’s a lot of people who don’t have access to the internet or that may not even have a computer, so we’re going to be opening up and making people aware that they can go to our libraries, community centers and places like that to fill out that form,” Price said.

Price says the main deterrent when it comes to filling out the census is the ‘fear factor.’ She says that communities of color have always been leery of the government coming in and counting them – especially if they don’t have established citizenship.

“As people were preparing for the census there was the possibility of having a question about citizenship,” Price said. “Even though that question is not on there, and you will not be asked your social security number, people still remember that. And then of course, especially here in Orange County and even in Durham County, we’ve had ICE raids.”

Because of this fear, the Board of County Commissioners are trying to recruit what they call ‘trusted messengers.’ These are people that live in the community who will be trained to encourage and help others fill out the form.

All of this work is designed to build ‘relationships of trust’ with members of the community – especially those who have an innate distrust of the government. Price said to do this, they are also planning a Census Sunday on March 29th.

‘We’re going to try to get our faith leaders to announce to their congregations the importance of the census and to please get their people out,” Price said. “Just like you get out to vote, we want to get out to count.”

You can find more information about the 2020 Census on the Orange County website.

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