Presentation to members of the advisory group for the 2010 Census.

1. 2010 Census:
Why It Matters
and What It
Means for
Boston
Alvaro Lima
Director for Research
Boston Redevelopment
Authority
Ramon Soto
Census Liaison 1

2. Census Basics
 Provide a complete count of all residents at the
place they live so that we can:
◦ provide key demographic information;
◦ accurately allocate federal funding
◦ provide accurate Congressional representation
 1940: 14 Representatives
 2000: 10 Representatives
2

3. Funding 172 Federal Programs
 Allocation of funds to programs based on
population and population characteristics
◦ Age
◦ Disability
◦ Educational Attainment
◦ Foreign-Born
◦ Gender
◦ Geographical Mobility
◦ Living Arrangements
◦ Poverty
◦ School Enrollment
◦ Voting and Registration
3

4. Fiscal Year 2009 Estimated
Obligations for the 10 Largest
Federal Assistance Programs (in
Billions of Dollars)
Medicaid
Hwy Planning &
Contruction
State Fiscal Stabalization
Fund
Title 1 Grants to Local
Educational Agencies
IDEA Part B
TANF
Section 8 Housing Choice
Vouchers
Community Development
Block Grant
Federal Transit Formula
Grant
Children's Health
Insurance
266.6
54.1
39.7
17.1
24.5
22.8
16.6
13.3
13.0
10.6
Total Estimated Obligations: $478.3 Billion
4

5. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
185018601870188018901900191019201930194019501960197019801990200020062007
Boston
Massachusetts
United States
Share of Foreign-Born in
Boston, Mass., and U.S. (1850-
2007)
5

6. Boston’s Minority Groups Have
Become the City’s New
“Majority”
68%
22%
6%
3%
1.1
%
1980
59%24%
11%
5% 1.0%
1990
50%
24%
14%
8%
1.4%
3%
2000
50%
22%
16%
8%
1.2% 2%
1.4%
2007
White Black or African American Hispanic or Latino
• Latinos (15.7%), Asians (8.2%), and Blacks or African
Americans (22.3%) together with other minorities make up
50.1 percent of the city’s total population
• Since 1990, the Latino population has increased by 53.6%
and the Asian population by 71.1%
6

7. Mexico
Brazil
Jamaica
Colombia
Cape Verde
El Salvador
Vietnam
Dominican Republic
Haiti
China
2.4%
4,099
4.0
%
4.1%
6,873
4.3
%
4.5%
7,623
4.6
%
5.5%
9,303
7.9%
13,386
8.5%
14,361
8.6%
14,41
7
Note: *Cape Verde population data is taken from the 05-07 ACS PUMS
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Fact Finder, American Community Survey, 2005-2007, BRA Research Division
Analysis
New Bostonians Leading
Countries of Origin

8. 589,141 590,293
585,259
577,432
567,660
559,034
590,763
599,351
609,023
589,141
600,974
603,982 601,997
597,947 596,638 595,698
608,352
620,535
550000
560000
570000
580000
590000
600000
610000
620000
630000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Original Census Estimate
Resolved Challenge Estimate, Years before 2005 were not…
Source: U.S. Census Bureau; BRA Research Division Analysis
Note: The Census Bureau made its revision for years beginning in 2005 only. The graph shows an interpolated change between the last official count of the population in 2000 and the first Census
revision in 2005.
6.7%
Growth
1.9%
Discrepancy
Boston’s Annual Population
Estimate (2001-2008)
8

9. General Formulas Used
 Counties and cities federal funding is based on
the following resources:
◦ Population
◦ Extent of poverty
◦ Extent of overcrowded housing
◦ Population growth
◦ Age of housing/housing loss
9

10. Challenges
 Getting the long form
to every household
(LUCA)
 Getting everyone to
answer
◦ Students
◦ Low-income persons
◦ Foreign-born
 Short and Long Form
 Census Boycott
◦ Confidentiality (Title 13)
◦ Legalization and
Counting
◦ Identity 10

11. Understanding the What, Why,
and How
 Boston CCC & C.O.B. Census Liaisons
◦ A Complete Count Committee (CCC) is a
volunteer committee of local governments,
community leaders, and organizations to
increase awareness and motivate residents to
respond to the 2010 Census
◦ Census Liaisons – represent every department
& agency in City government.
◦ CCCs are local “census ambassador” groups
that play an integral part in the 2010 Census.
11

12. Planning Your Work, Working
Your Plan
 Effective CCC Activities
◦ Public Service Announcement (PSAs)
◦ Banners, posters, billboards & advertising on
benches
◦ Events & parades
◦ Print materials
◦ Faith-based activities
◦ Translation of materials
◦ Local media coverage
12

13. Understanding the What, Why,
and How
 Overview of CCCs
◦All responses provided on the 2010 Census
questionnaire or to a Census Bureau employee are
confidential and protected under Title 13 of the U.S.
Code
◦No individual or agency can have access to any
information that will tie the respondent to his or her
responses
◦Results from the census are reported in statistical
format only
◦Records are confidential for 72 years by law (Title 13,
U.S. Code)
◦Employees have lifetime-sworn status
◦Penalty for wrongful disclosure is up to 5 years
imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000
13

14. Action Steps for Complete Count
Committees
 CCC Time Line
◦ Education: 2008 -September 2009, “raising census
awareness”
 CCC Chairs ensure that members understand the
mission of the CCC
◦ Promotion: April 2009 –January 2010
 ”The 2010 Census is Coming” It is imminent, easy, and
important to participate
◦ Motivation/Action: February 2010 –June 2010
 February: Motivate households to participate and make sure
they know where to get assistance in filling out the
questionnaire.
 March: Message “Countdown to Census Day”. Increase
activities promoting the census
 April: Message “Census Day!” Improve the mail-in response
rate
 May : Message “Cooperate with Census Takers” and thank
you events for the CCC
14

15. Action Steps for Complete Count
Committees
 Action Steps for April - May 2010
◦ Census Bureau will provide response rate numbers
starting in April. Response rates may be used to
determine where more outreach is needed
◦ Prepare to implement activities for residents who do
not return their questionnaire
15

16. City Calendar
Upcoming
census events
News & Press
Releases
Video &
Multimedia
Related Links
http://2010.census.go
v/2010census/
The City of Boston wants every Boston resident to
stand up and be counted in the 2010 federal Census.
The campaign will raise awareness about the Census
and its importance to Boston; dispel myths that may
prevent people from being counted; and encourage all
Bostonians to participate in the 2010 Census.
2010 Census
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The U.S. Census counts every resident in the
United States, and is required by the Constitution
to take place every 10 years. The 2010 Census
will help communities receive billions of dollars in
federal funds each year. The data collected by
the census also help determine the number of
seats your state has in the U.S. House of …
In the face of a globally
challenging economic climate,
one of the most positive signs for
Boston is that our population
continues to grow. In fact, last
year, for the first time since the
1970s, Boston’s population
surpassed 600,000 people…
Watch the PSA here »
16

17. 2010 Census Integrated
Communications Campaign
Key dates of the 2010 Census operational timeline include:
Early Local Census Offices open Late 2008
Address Canvassing conducted Spring 2009
Local Census offices open Fall 2009
United States Postal Service delivers initial 2010 Census
questionnaires
March 2010
CENSUS DAY April 1, 2010
Nonresponse Follow-up Operation April – July 2010
Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the
President of the United States Dec. 31, 2010
Redistricting counts are delivered to states
February 2011-
March 2011
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