While COVID-19 crisis has thrown the 2020 U.S. Census schedule off by months, the push continues to get an accurate count of Brevard County residents.
And there's a lot at stake in this official, every-10-year count of the U.S. population. Brevard County is vying for its share of $675 billion in federal funding which, based on the count, will be distributed via grants, direct payments, loans, and loan guarantees distributed annually to states and individuals.
The census — available online for the first time this year — helps determine funding for everything from libraries and community centers to Medicaid and highways. Census results also are used to reapportion the U.S. House of Representatives.
Given the restrictions forced by the coronavirus, the deadline for self-response — online, by phone or by mail — has been pushed to Oct. 31, with census takers set to start going to homes from which questionnaires haven't been completed on Aug. 11.
“Ten years ago no one predicted what 2020 would be like," said Amanda Wilhelm, Brevard Correct Count Committee project manager.
"We need to set ourselves up in the best possible manner for what may come in the next decade. The path to this is future funding ... I can’t state enough how imperative it is that everyone gets counted."
As of June 8, the latest date available from the U.S. Census, Brevard County was at 66.3% in the self-response rate, ahead of the state (58.3%) and national (60.8%) rates. When the state is undercounted, that means fewer bucks for Floridians. Florida had the third-worst census participation nationwide in 2010, undercounted by an estimated 1.4 million residents and losing out on about $20 billion in federal funding.
Brevard's census committee members are determined to get the local response percentage even higher, with a goal of 80%.
There's a lot at risk here, they say. In Seminole County, for example, the 2010 count was 30,000 short of 500,000 people. That kept them from receiving direct federal CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act funding, payments to state, local and tribal governments dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And on top of pandemic-related costs to the county, hurricane season is in play. Census numbers determine how much federal funding is received each year through the Emergency Management Performance Grant, which covers a portion of operating funds for Brevard's emergency management department.
More: 10 things to know about the U.S. Census, and why participation matters
More: Coronavirus: How will pandemic affect 2020 U.S. Census, which just got under way?
With some areas of Brevard only reporting in the 40th percentile, it means missing out on critical funding for programs like school lunches, roads and health care, said Rob Rains, United Way of Brevard president.
The Correct Count committee is focusing heavily on reaching areas considered "hard to count," typically populated by lower-income residents, non-English speakers and the transient population.
Those pockets are sprinkled countywide — in Cocoa, for example, along the Fiske Corridor between Fiske Boulevard and U.S. 1.
Planning is in the works for small, volunteer-focused literature handouts in those communities. Census material was available at the June 6 March for Justice in Cocoa and Rockledge, and that could be happening at upcoming events, along with materials, volunteers and technology to allow individuals to complete their forms, Wilhelm said.
"As our community begins to reopen, we have an opportunity to get boots on the ground to visit our hard-to-count areas," said Rains.
"It is more important than ever. Having that grassroots connection will help in communicating the importance and alleviate fears people have when it comes to completing the census."
Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly
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Census response rates
Brevard County's 2010 census response rate was around 78 percent. The 2020 goal: 80 percent.
As of June 8: Florida had a self-response rate of 58.3 and Brevard County, 66.3. Nationally, that rate was 60.8.
Across the Space Coast: Cape Canaveral, 49.7%; Cocoa, 57.2%; Cocoa Beach, 52.9%; Indialantic, 69.3%; Indian Harbour Beach, 64.8%; Melbourne, 64.3%; Melbourne Beach, 68.7%; Melbourne Village, 74.9%; Palm Bay, 67%; Palm Shores, 64.5%; Rockledge, 72.8%; Titusville, 64.7%; and West Melbourne, 69.7%.
By now, all households should have received an invitation letter with a unique census ID that allows participation online, and some have received subsequent notices.
Information: https://2020census.gov/
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