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U.S. Census seeks higher participation

In the last 10 years, San Francisco has lost as much as $300 million in federal funding for inaccurate census counts, but this year, community members are working to make sure that more people are counted.

Performed every decade, the 2000 survey drastically miscounted the number of citizens in the city by 100,000, leading to under-funding and confusing data regarding San Francisco residents.

Census numbers also relate to government representation and each resident counts for about $40,000 in federal funding over 10 years, according to Stephen Woo, community organizer for the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation.

This year, the city expects to count at least 810,000 residents through mail-in surveys and door-to-door counts.

"Our ultimate goal is an 80 percent mail-in response rate, meaning census workers won't have to come around," Woo said.

"Residents mistrust the government, they are apprehensive about filling out the form, or they are worried about eviction or living in a single-residence occupancy hotel (SRO)," Woo said of neighborhoods with low-income or immigrant populations who are nervous about federal enumerators coming to their doors.

Unlike 2000, when there was more federal funding to cities to make sure every person was included in the census data, the amount has dropped, and city officials are looking to local community groups for outreach and to encourage participation.

"We are applying a street-smart approach. We're using community organizations as an asset because they already have outreach in their communities, and their work will compliment what the national census is doing," said Adrienne Pon, executive director of the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs.

San Francisco is one of 13 counties in California deemed "hardest to count" by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In the city alone, eight districts are also considered hard to count, such as SoMa, Western Addition, Chinatown, Bayview, the Tenderloin and Hunter's Point, because of issues such as monolingual households, public housing and transient residents, according to Pon.

In response, Pon is spearheading the group SF 2010 Census in a citywide endeavor to make sure no citizen goes unrepresented.

"It's different from 2000," Pon said. "No one has money, there's the financial crisis, people are more dispersed and harder to find, we have a larger homeless population and many people are fearful or mistrustful of government."

The group includes a 25-member Complete Count Committee, including local community leaders and business members, who reach out in their sectors to promote the importance of filing census data and how the numbers will positively affect San Francisco residents.

"Community groups urge getting the form back, hopefully by March 19, because it reduces the chance of undercounting," Pon said. "For every 1,000 residents whose door they don't have to knock on, it saves $80 million, which is money for hospitals and school programs. It goes back to the City and County of San Francisco."

This year the form is a bit different and more simplified, encompassing only 10 questions that can be mailed in. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors also managed to convince the Census Bureau to include the survey in different languages, which helps accommodate the many Asian and Pacific Islanders who reside in the city.

In addition, there is now a category for same-sex married couples.

"The original policy did not count couples or the kids in those families, something that is really important in San Francisco," Pon said. "Because of our good relationship with the Census Bureau, the City and County of San Francisco pushed for a nationwide change in policy on same-sex married couples."

Another push is to convince students of the importance of being included in the census. 
"Normally, 18- to 25-year-olds don't participate," Pon said. "They need to know it will affect future grant programs and tuition costs."

As for SF State housing, the Census form has been distributed to all housing residents on campus, who are urged to return the form by April 8.

Census enumerators will be in the dining center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April 6 to April 8 to allow students to fill the surveys out there, and collect any finished surveys. 
The housing office is also sending email reminders, reminding students it is not only their civic duty but also the law to file Census information, according to Philippe Cumia, associate director of SF State housing.

This year, Census forms were sent out on March 15, and they should be returned in mid-April. A booth has been set up inside the Student Center in front of the bookstore with Census forms in six languages, and a volunteer on hand to answer any questions. 
"We have to get it right. It affects us for the next ten years," Pon said.