To continue with the Christmas theme, let’s think back to Joseph and Mary and why they were traveling to Bethlehem.
They were traveling to be counted in the census, and, just like Joseph, we are obligated to participate in the census that is taking place in 2020. U.S. Census Day 2020 is April 1, and you need to participate.
Each county in West Virginia has hard-to-count areas and committees are being formed statewide to make sure that every West Virginian is counted. The census data determines an allocation of over $6 billion for the state of West Virginia. Some numbers estimate that we lose over $25,000 in funding for every West Virginian not counted. And not only that, but we lose that money every year for the next ten years when the next Census takes place. So, that’s an estimated $25,000 in federal funds that will be lost for every person not filling out the Census.
Hard to Count
A number of populations are historically harder to count than others. The homeless population presents challenges to being counted, but who would have guessed that children ages 0-5 are one the of the most undercounted populations? We need to start talking about the Census with our families, our neighbors, our churches, our food pantries … everyone needs to understand that so much of what we rely on is dependent on the Census count.
Roads, SNAP, WIC … the list of programs that will lose funding is easy to write, but did you know that we are at risk of losing a Congressional seat if we don’t get our state counted? I don’t know about you, but I don’t see how less representation in DC is what we need here.
There are 100 reasons why people don’t get counted, but there are 101 why we absolutely have to do it. Housing assistance, childcare assistance, etc., are at risk. Some of us are afraid of reporting everyone in our homes because we’re afraid that we will be reported to our landlords and get in trouble that will lead to bigger trouble, but the Census is held to an almost unheard of pledge of confidentiality.
In fact, I was on a webinar the other day and was told that a death threat had been scrawled on a Census form toward President Bill Clinton and that could not be turned over to Secret Service. So, the truth is, our landlords are not entitled to our Census data if the Secret Service isn’t.
You can get linked into a statewide movement to get every West Virginian counted by following Count Me In WV Coalition on Facebook and social media. There’s so much at stake here. West Virginia always seems to be in need, so let’s each do our part and realize that you count, your family counts … everybody counts in West Virginia.
