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PLEASE: everyone commit to talking with 5 friends, family, neighbors about the importance of filling out the #Census. My neighborhood is what's considered "historically undercounted" so schools, roads, hospitals etc... rarely get federal funds that support the community's needs.
This year filling out the #Census2020 couldn't be easier, you can do it over the phone or online at http://census.gov . Enumerators won't even need to knock on your door if you submit yours now. But make sure it's complete and accurate!
Anyone claiming residence at your address should be counted, even the baby! (Kids under 5 are often left off. But kids especially count when you consider how much money schools need.) Renters or family members who stay with you count, even couch surfers count!
Currently only HALF of Philadelphians have submitted their Census forms. And it's most likely the people whose communities will need it most that haven't been accurately counted. Sometimes folks are just hard to reach, for others distrust is a major factor.
Worse, prison gerrymandering really impacts which communities vet accurately counted. We have to help ease people's minds that census data is critical to communities' abilities to thrive, though. Some pop-up efforts are coming this summer to help: https://whyy.org/articles/only-half-of-philly-has-filled-out-the-census-help-is-heading-to-low-response-neighborhoods/
As I type this long-awaited construction to remove a dangerous slip lane from in front of an elementary school at a busy intersection is finally happening outside my window. Funding for this type of project is generally secured by data provided by the last Census in 2010.
@POGOBlog has broken down what funding for each state looks like: https://www.pogo.org/census-project/
Here you can see examples of workforce development and community block grant entitlements for Philadelphia and other counties.
BUT! It's highly likely those numbers should be bigger because we may not have gotten an accurate count in the last census. So please: let's get everyone counted because @PhillyCounts!
Also! Check in with your local census office to see if they need help spreading the word. They are currently looking for people to phone bank, distribute door knockers and put up signs like the ones in the first pic. I have about 200 more and will be giving them out all week!
