Thomas Breen Photo
Mayor Toni Harp.
(Opinion) On Tuesday, January 29, city residents are invited to join me and many community partners to kick off New Haven’s comprehensive outreach efforts ahead of the 2020 Census. Though it’s still a year away, now is the time to begin preparations to ensure a complete count in New Haven.
This decennial census will have lasting impacts for the city. Census data determines the allocation of federal funding worth more than $675 billion, for programs that impact schools, health care, roads, public works, and much more.
Businesses use census data to guide decisions on where to invest in job creation and new facilities, and community organizations and municipal employees use census data to identify areas of need and inform distribution of services. An accurate count is critical to provide essential services to all residents and attract economic development opportunities.
Much has changed since the 2010 census. New Haven’s population has become increasingly diverse, and the use of technology has dramatically transformed the city. The 2020 Census will be the first in which residents will be able to respond electronically – in any one of thirteen languages, with language guides available for 47 additional languages.
Despite increased digital support, ensuring a complete count will be a challenge. Census data predicts more than half of New Haven’s census tracts will have a mail non-response rate of over 30 percent.
According to Census Bureau research, the groups at greatest risk of being undercounted are low-income households, immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities, young children, and those who do not live in traditional housing situations. An undercount can deprive these communities of fair representation and vital resources.
For this reason, it’s imperative we start working together – now – to ensure every New Haven resident is counted in this census. We will need to make all residents aware of the importance of the census, and we will need to provide resources to make the process of filling out the census form as convenient and accessible as possible.
One strategy will be to ensure New Haven residents take advantage of available employment opportunities at the Census Bureau. These jobs will include management positions as well as full-time and part-time field positions. I believe New Haven residents will be top candidates to assume these valuable roles in local census operations.
Just as importantly, leaders in all sectors and neighborhoods will need to transmit the importance of an accurate census count. My hope is that by the time census forms are mailed in the spring of 2020, every New Haven resident will have been reached: where they work, in their school, at worship services, at the barber shop, at the library, or any other place where they congregate and spend their time.
The time to start this outreach effort is now. Please join me, members of the Board of Alders, city staff, and many others at Tuesday’s census kick-off meeting to learn more about the 2020 Census and begin brainstorming creative and collaborative outreach strategies.
Let’s work together to ensure New Haven gets a complete count!
