Press Release

April 2019

Rhode Island’s Leaders Rally for Census 2020 Day of Action

Attendees call for a fair and accurate count and increased funding to support this work

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s state and local officials and labor, business and community leaders rallied at the State House today to mark Census Day of Action, one year from the start of the official count. The rally drew attention to the importance of ensuring a fair and accurate Census count for Rhode Island.

“We only get one shot at this, and it’s critical that every single Rhode Islander is counted,” said Governor Gina M. Raimondo. “The 2020 Census will have serious implications for Rhode Island for the next decade. Too often, vulnerable populations are undercounted, leading to decreased federal funding. The Complete Count Committee has the complete support of my office to work with the legislature and stakeholders to ensure complete statewide engagement.”   

The Census is a required, once-in-a-decade count of every person living in the United States. The results of the Census are used to guide government planning around public education, public assistance, housing, health care, business development, infrastructure and more. Rhode Island receives over $3 billion in federal funding every year based on Census estimates. This is equal to ⅓ of the state’s annual budget.

 “The Census will have far-reaching, long-term effects on Rhode Islanders, including funding for schools, public safety and housing,” said Central Falls Mayor James Diossa. “Leaders from all sectors are coming together to make sure that all Rhode Islanders have a voice and are counted. From the start, the Census Bureau has undercut resources for the 2020 count. It is up to us to double down on our efforts to raise awareness over the next year and mobilize resources to make sure that we are not short changed.”

Past Censuses have undercounted communities of color, people living in poverty, young children and people living in rural communities. The systematic undercounting of these communities decreases access to federal funding and accurate Congressional representation. 24% of Rhode Islanders are categorized as hard-to-count (HTC) by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“We will be working to ensure that every Rhode Islander is a part of 2020 U.S. Census, regardless of their ZIP code, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, level of education or level of income,” said Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. “Billions of dollars are at stake for programs that provide critical services to Rhode Islanders. We are going to carry today’s momentum forward and work every day through the end of the census counting period to make sure that we receive the funding we need to serve all Rhode Islanders in every community throughout the state. Every single Rhode Islander counts.”

If Rhode Island’s population declines, as shown through the 2020 Census, the state is at risk of losing a Congressional seat and changes to our voting districts, which will impact state representatives. The Census will also affect Rhode Island’s federal funding. These funds are used towards vital community assets including schools, hospitals and public safety, as well as programs for vulnerable Rhode Islanders, such as special education, free/reduced school lunch programs, Medicaid, foster care and the Children's Health Insurance Program.  

The rally also included remarks from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, Attorney General Peter Neronha, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, House Majority Leader Joseph Shekarchi, Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey, Senator Sandra Cano, Representative Anastasia Williams, Chanda Womack, Executive Director of the R.I. Southeast Asians for Education, Marcela Betancur, Director of the Latino Policy Institute, and George Nee, President of the R.I. AFL-CIO.

April 1, 2020, Census Day, will mark the start of the Census count. The majority of people will receive an invitation letter with instructions on how to respond online or by telephone. A smaller population will receive both an invitation letter and a paper questionnaire with a postage-paid return envelope. Local libraries will also serve as a location for Rhode Islanders to complete the Census online. For Census job opportunities, such as census takers, recruiting assistants, and office staff, please visit: https://2020census.gov/jobs.

The Rhode Island Complete Count Committee was created by an Executive Order, issued by Governor Gina Raimondo, in December 2018. The RICCC is tasked with developing and recommending a census outreach strategy to encourage full participation in the 2020 federal census ensuring that the segments of the Rhode Island population are not undercounted. More information on the committee can be found at http://www.planning.ri.gov/planning-areas/Census/census-2020.php.