Created by Justice For Muslims Collective for Advocates for Community Organizers
Author: Mahnoor Hussain
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. The next census will take place April 1, 2020 and will be open for response online, by telephone, or with a paper questionnaire.
The U.S. Census is an opportunity for the government to accurately count Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area and appropriately allocate resources and services in this region.
The 2020 Census data will determine how the next 10 years of representation will look like for our communities and how much federal funding is distributed for critical programs that our families and communities use.
“Getting a complete and accurate Census count of AMEMSA communities in the DMV is about $40 billion dollars in federal funding.”
AMEMSA communities, people with limited English proficiency, people with low incomes, and young children are some of the groups that are undercounted in the census. Many areas in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with dense AMEMSA populations are at risk of being undercounted.
AMEMSA Population Estimates
The following table was created by compiling data from the American Community Survey from 2014 and 2017, and Census data from 2010. It is critical to note that it is difficult to find disaggregated data on AMEMSA Communities for local communities. In addition, communities don’t always identify along these racial and ethnic categories. Therefore, this is an incomplete portrait of the demographics. However, this is a starting point and underscores our concerns with a potential undercount.
An accurate count of our community is necessary for critical government services to be provided to our people.
Census data helps determine where and how billions of dollars are spent on programs like SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, Head Start, Affordable Housing, and Transportation and Roads.
Census data determines how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives and how many votes each state gets in the Electoral College.
Businesses use census data to decide where to build new stores and offices impacting both the services they provide and job opportunities available to our communities.
Getting a complete and accurate Census count of AMEMSA communities in the DMV is about $40 billion dollars in federal funding.
How the Census Directly Impacts Our Families and Communities in the DMV
For every uncounted Virginia resident, we lose $2,000 a year per person in federal assistance program allocations. In 2016, Virginia received $17 billion dollars in federal spending for critical state programs based on 2010 Census data.
For every uncounted Maryland resident, we lose $1,800 a year per person in federal assistance program allocations. In 2016, Maryland received $16 billion dollars in critical state programs based on 2010 Census data.
In 2016, the District of Columbia received $6 billion dollars in federal spending.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CENSUS?
Email Justice for Muslims Collective with your questions at dcjusticeformuslims@gmail.com
CALL THE FOLLOWING CENSUS LANGUAGE HOTLINES FOR IN-LANGUAGE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE:
Census Bureau Questionnaire Assistance Hotline
English - call 844-330-2020
Arabic - call 844-416-2020
Count Us In Census Hotline
English, Urdu, Hindi, Bangla - call 844-2020-API
YallaCountMeIn Census Hotline
Arabic - call 833-333-6864
Beginning in March 2020, households will receive official Census Bureau mail with information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online.
Below is what the official government mailer will look like:
