Community-based groups will play a vital role in the 2020 Census as trusted voices in their communities and among the people they serve each day. These groups provide essential and needed services and assistance to some of the most vulnerable Alabamians. In fact, these agencies often administer many of the federal programs that support health care, healthy children, and education at the local level. Also, many clients of these organizations are often in groups considered as hard-to-count by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here are just a few of the support and assistance programs that are guided in some part by data derived from the census and their 2016 obligations to Alabama.

Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) – $3,964,085,000

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – $1,254,835,320

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers – $194,272,000

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – $102,479,587

Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans – $435,108,296

Head Start – $138,342,659

WIC – $110,726,000

Low Income Home Energy Assistance – $43,520,240

Community Services Block Grant – $13,132,186

Click here for the full report. (PDF)

All of us either depend on the assistance provided through these programs or know someone who does.

Can my group help clients complete their census forms?

Yes. In short, you can provide materials and equipment to make it as easy to respond as possible and encourage people to respond, but you should not collect information on their behalf.

See complete details here: Supporting self-response in the 2020 Census (PDF)