Regional Census Fund to help communities of color outreach for 2020 Census

King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on Monday announced a partnership with the Seattle Foundation to create the first-ever Regional Census Fund that will provide at least $1 million in funding to help community organizations like Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) to prepare for the 2020 Census, which will be conducted one year from now: April 1, 2020.

Every 10 years, the federal government is legally required to count every person living in the country, regardless of citizenship status, as part of the U.S. Census. Certain populations, however, have historically been missed: low-income households, young children, and certain communities of color – in particular, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who have been undercounted for decades and put at a disadvantage for needed healthcare and quality education. Because the federal government uses Census data to allocate billions in federal funding, incomplete or inaccurate counts could result in these same communities receiving less funding for programs that families rely on, including Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicare, and Medicaid.

Undercounting impacts our democracy and ability to have a full voice in policy and decision making. Furthermore, a January 2019 U.S. Census Bureau study on the challenges of the 2020 Census found that Asian Americans were least likely of any racial group to report they intend to complete the form.

“For communities of color, immigrants and refugees, the LGBTQ community, and those affected by homelessness, directing critical funds to trusted organizations who serve them are vitally important to a successful count,” said ACRS Executive Director Michael Byun, who was among the community leaders who joined Constantine and Durkan during the announcement. “This is needed now more than ever, given the challenges we face with the anti-immigration sentiment from the Trump administration.”

Adding to the historical barriers of AAPIs’ participation in the Census, the federal government is now attempting to add a “citizenship question” to the Census, which has not been included on the Census form in almost 70 years. This last-minute addition appears to be the federal government’s attempt to politicize the Census and deter people from participating, which jeopardizes a complete 2020 Census count and could harm immigrant-dense communities, say local officials. This is also the first time the Census will be administered primarily online, leading to more challenges in counting under-resourced communities.

“The Trump administration is relying on fear and intimidation to discourage people from participating in the Census, which will shape the future of our region, state, and country,” said Executive Constantine. “We will provide trusted community partners with the support and resources they need to help ensure a complete, accurate count of all people who call King County home.”

ACRS’ Civic Engagement team have joined other organizations in a multi-racial coalition to form the statewide Washington Census Alliance, whose aim is to ensure a safe and accurate count of communities of color. Communities will need even more resources for outreach and education to overcome these challenges that further threaten a complete and accurate count for AAPIs and other historically undercounted communities.

“Seattle’s community-based organizations are trusted by the communities they serve, and the Regional Census Fund will help them do the important work of reaching into community, building trust and preparing for the 2020 Census,” said Mayor Durkan. “Despite what the president thinks, in Seattle, we know that everyone counts, and everyone deserves to be counted.”

Former Washington state governor and U.S. ambassador to China Gary Locke, who was tasked with overseeing the 2010 Census as former President Barack Obama’s Commerce Secretary, also emphasized, “It’s going to take important local partnerships, like the Regional Census Fund, to ensure our communities are counted safely and accurately.”

Funding isn’t the only thing at stake for Washington communities. Census results also result in representation for states; the 2010 Census resulted in an additional Congressional seat for Washington state.

“We know we are one of the fastest growing cities and region in America right now. It is likely we are entitled to another Congressional seat, another voice in Washington to make sure that the values of this Washington become dominant in that Washington,” said Mayor Durkan.

Applications for the Regional Census Fund will become available in April. The funds will be available in the summer and will be administered by the Seattle Foundation.