What is the 2020 Census?
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the United States and the five U.S. territories. The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail. This will mark the first time that you will be able to respond to the census online. 
Why it Matters?
The census count has consequences we will live with for the next decade, if not longer. This makes the stakes even higher. Michigan stands to lose an estimated $1,800 per person per year in federal support for programs that use census data. These include Medicaid, nutrition assistance, highway construction and planning, Title I and Special Education Grants, Foster Care and Child Care Grants, K-12 education, Section 8 Vouchers, and Head Start/Early Start — for which Michigan received more than $14 billion in 2015.
Consequences of Undercounting the African American Community
An undercount of African American communities will result in African Americans being denied a full voice in policy decision-making because political boundaries and congressional reappointments most likely will not be based on real numbers. As a result, the African American community stands to lose important representation guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
In addition, federal agencies rely on census data to monitor discrimination and implement civil rights laws that protect voting rights, equal employment opportunity, and more. This is particularly important for African American communities, which have faced discrimination and have been historically disenfranchised from the voting process.
Undercounting the African American community in the 2020 Census could also impact how federal funding is allocated to states and localities. Many programs that provide financial security for low-income families and economic development for their communities are funded based, primarily, on census-driven data.
What is Asked on the Census?
- How many people are living or staying at your home on April 1, 2020
- Whether the home is owned or rented
- About the sex of each person in your home
- About the age of each person in your home
- About the race of each person in your home
- About whether a person in your home is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin
- About the relationship of each person in your home
Ways to Respond to the Census?
By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding:
- Online
- By phone
- By mail
Where Can I Get More Information?
https://2020census.gov/
www.becountedmi2020.com
