The Census is conducted every 10 years and is intended to provide a complete count of all people living in the U.S. Not only does the census drive political representation, locations of schools, hospitals and housing, it also drives the dollars communities receive in federal funds. For example, every person counted in Georgia in the 2010 census brought in $1,639 in federal funds. To the extent that a person is not counted, those are federal dollars lost to the community.
In 2010, children ages 0 -5 and African American men were the two most undercounted groups. In Cobb County, additional “Hard to Count” (HTC) populations include homeless, families and children living in poverty and English-language learners. The upcoming 2020 census presents a unique set of additional challenges, however. There is less federal funding, half the number of field offices and field workers, and a new online form.
For Cobb to receive its share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs, we need every person to be counted.
The Cobb Collaborative is just one organization that has joined the County’s Complete Count Committee and is actively working towards that goal. The Collaborative is sharing educational materials, meeting with leaders of non-profits, and exhibiting at events with a focus on Cobb’s HTC population.
Census Day is April 1, 2020. Share with your friends, neighbors, EVERYONE how important it is that EVERY PERSON IS COUNTED.
