The N.C. Counts Coalition serves as a hub to facilitate cross-sector coordination among government, planning and community organizations, service providers, businesses and others to achieve a complete and accurate Census count for North Carolina.
Congress failed to timely allocate funding to the U.S. Census Bureau to allow the Bureau to implement infrastructure to achieve a complete and accurate Census count. For example, late funding and funding cuts resulted in:
There are several factors that play into the cost of the Census, including:
Hard-to-Count Communities are groups who are more likely to not be counted by the Census than other Americans. Historically, marginalized communities are at a greater risk of being undercounted.
North Carolina’s Hard-to-Count Communities include:
Accuracy has always been a hurdle with Hard-to-Count Communities. These Communities are often reluctant to respond to the Census because of concerns and fears of the confidentiality of the information collected and how that information will be used.
The U.S. Census Bureau is rolling back door-to-door canvassing and focusing more on internet-based responses. This will affect obtaining an accurate count of communities that do not have internet access.
According to Broadband Now, 151,000 people in North Carolina do not have any wired internet providers available where they live.
In March 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the untimely addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census questionnaire. A citizenship question will significantly increase the cost of the 2020 Census and result in far less accurate data, and ultimately in a loss of federal funds to North Carolina communities. On June 27, 2019, in a surprise 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court found the Administration’s justification for the citizenship question to be “contrived” and ordered the removal of the question from the questionnaire. Though the citizenship question will not be on the 2020 Census, the very existence of the question has created a chilling effect on the Census and future participation by all communities. It is necessary to rebuild trust within North Carolina’s most vulnerable communities.
We believe that accurate Census data is essential to the economic well-being of North Carolina and the general well-being of every single North Carolinian. A complete, inclusive and accurate 2020 Census Count will:
Inclusiveness:
We recognize the Decennial Census to be the most inclusive government operation in our country. Every individual, regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship status, age or gender, is counted equally and will benefit from a complete and accurate Census. We champion inclusiveness and strive for every individual in North Carolina to be counted.
Transparency and Accountability:
We will be open, honest and accountable in our relationships with everyone we work with and with each other. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, service, and fiduciary responsibility.
Leadership:
We will be the “go to” resource for 2020 Census information and planning in North Carolina, offering deep knowledge and solutions to address the root causes of undercounts in our communities. Our knowledge guides our work, strengthens our value, and supports our role in serving as a leader and resource to stakeholders, partners and the public. We will mobilize resources to ensure that every community is accurately counted.
Engagement, Connectivity and Collaboration:
With an innovative and empowering spirit, we will engage all stakeholders and communities of North Carolina through solutions and ideas that will shape a complete and accurate 2020 Census Count in North Carolina. We aim to expand capacity and complement existing resources, rather than duplicating them. We will be a portal to collaborate, connect, engage, partner, mobilize and share. We will create opportunities to align organizations, businesses and government agencies for the 2020 Census.