Community Action Agencies strive to change lives, embody the spirit of hope, improve communities, make America a better place to live, care about the entire community, and help people help themselves and each other. Encouraging an accurate count of “the whole number of persons in each state” as outlined in the 14th amendment of the Constitution of the United State of America is part of what we do. We care about the entire community and count the entire community as our neighbors and friends.
Community Action Partnership of Utah, the state association for Utah’s nine community action agencies, is disappointed in Tuesday’s Memorandum on Excluding Illegal Aliens From the Apportionment Base Following the 2020 Census issued by the Trump administration. While this executive action faces many legal challenges and may not be upheld, this action can still undermine a fair and accurate census by discouraging participation in the 2020 Census. The impacts on Utah could be severe. For each person missed in the Census, it is estimated that Utah will lose $14,220.00 in federal resources over the next decade. Undercounting Utahns can also skew planning for schools, hospitals, social services, and businesses. In areas with high minority populations, this can be especially problematic.
Community Action Partnership of Utah encourages all Utahns to continue to participate in the 2020 Census. The easiest way to participate is by visiting https://2020census.gov/. It is quick, easy, and your information is protected. There is also no citizenship question and census information cannot be shared with other federal agencies.
