Every decade, the U.S. Census Bureau collects information to determine the country’s population and update vital demographic details. Completing the census is one of the quickest tasks you can do to yield the greatest benefit for your community. 

Lawmakers will use census data to make crucial decisions that will impact the entire country for the next 10 years. Census data is used to determine the number of elected representatives for federal, state, and local offices, and to draw congressional and state legislative districts. The results are also used to determine the distribution of nearly $1.5 trillion in federal funds, which is invested in public services such as schools, jobs, transportation, and housing, in otherwise underserved communities.

Completing the census is crucial to ensure our city can recover from the pandemic with fully funded services and accurate representation in congress. A recent article by the Director of NYC Census 2020 Julie Menin, titled Why the census counts, outlines why filling out the census is so important.

• Do you have children or family in NYC schools? The census determines millions in funding for Title 1, special education, Head Start, child care, and more. In 2017, the city received $700 million in Title 1 funding.
• Do you rely on affordable housing? The census helps fund the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), which administers nearly 40,000 Section 8 vouchers and helps fund new affordable housing priorities.
• Do you have elderly people in your family? The census helps provide funding for meals for seniors either at senior centers or delivered to their homes, as well as nutrition education, transportation, legal, and employment services for seniors.
• Do you go to the health centers in your community? The census helps provide the critical funding they need to serve you and your neighbors.
• Do you care about improving your community? The census helps fund anti-poverty and community revitalization services, including employment, education, financial literacy, housing, nutrition, health services, and other social services.

For Children’s Aid, data collected from the census will help determine our funding for meals, education, and ensuring comprehensive support for youth and families in the communities we serve.

That’s why we’re encouraging everyone within our community to complete their census form. If you have not completed the census, please visit my2020census.gov today.

We will also be helping families complete the census at our food distribution sites until September 30:

• Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 8am – 12pm @ P.S.5, 3703 Tenth Avenue NY, NY 10034
• Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 3pm – 5pm @ Children's Aid - Dunlevy Milbank Center, 14-32 W 118th St, New York, NY 10026
• Thursday, September 17 from 11am – 2pm @ Children’s Aid Bronx Family Center, 1515 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
• Wednesday, September 23, 2020 from 8am – 12pm @ P.S.5, 3703 Tenth Avenue NY, NY 10034
• Wednesday, September 23, 2020 from 3pm – 5pm @ Children's Aid - Dunlevy Milbank Center, 14-32 W 118th St, New York, NY 10026
• Thursday, September 24 from 11am – 2pm @ Children’s Aid Bronx Family Center, 1515 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10460
• Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 8am – 12pm @ P.S.5, 3703 Tenth Avenue NY, NY 10034
• Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 3pm – 5pm @ Children's Aid - Dunlevy Milbank Center, 14-32 W 118th St, New York, NY 10026

Together we can make a difference.