SHELBURNE FALLS — The data collected in the 2020 U.S. census will be relevant for a decade, influencing the redistricting of congressional districts as well as federal and state funding.
When it comes to Franklin County, the census is expected to show the area’s population has decreased by 0.5 percent since 2011.
“We hope to prove (the anticipated decrease in population) wrong,” said state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Sunderland, at a census 2020 informational event at the Shelburne Falls Senior Center on Friday.
“I can’t underscore enough the importance that each person is counted. Each person counted represents more money and resources in Massachusetts,” she said.
While the state is seeing an increase in population of 5 percent, on average, Franklin County is actually losing people, which means fewer allocated resources to the area.
Still, Franklin County isn’t the worst off in terms of a decreasing population. In the Berkshires, the population is expected to have seen a 3.7 percent decrease, according to state Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru, who explained that the estimated decreases come directly from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The message shared Friday was that it is critical that every person be counted in the 2020 census, especially given the declining population.
The census data informs where more than $675 billion in federal funding is allocated each year, including for things like Medicare Part B; special education; food stamps; substance abuse prevention and treatment block grants; and water and waste disposal systems for rural communities.
“We’re here to shape your future,” said census worker Elaine Arsenault.
Arsenault said people should understand the census is “safe, easy and important.” It’s safe in the sense that data collected is mandated by federal law to be kept confidential. Information about individuals is not shared with any public agency, including law enforcement, and census takers are bound for life by an oath to keep the data confidential, Arsenault said.
According to Arsenault, the Census Bureau needs help from the public in two areas: census takers and “census ambassadors.”
Census takers are paid $19 per hour, are typically recruited locally and are allowed flexible, part-time work schedules. They must undergo a criminal background check. Arsenault also called for members of the community to be “ambassadors” and spread the word of the importance of the census to ensure everyone is counted.
For Mark, chair of the state’s House Committee on Redistricting, the census is particularly important because of its influence on drawing up congressional districts.
In 2011, for example, following the last census, Massachusetts lost a member in the U.S. House of Representatives due to redistricting. The district held then by John Olver was dismantled, with its territory being absorbed by other districts. Olver retired.
Mark said it’s unlikely a similar scenario will happen following the 2020 census, but it still highlights the importance of accurately counting each person. According to the Census Bureau, 2010’s census was accurate within 0.01 percent, with approximately 36,000 people having been “overcounted” out of the more than 300 million people in the country at the time.
The census counts not only the number of people in the U.S., but also the number of households. Data on individuals’ ages, races, ethnicities, relationship statuses and biological sex are also collected.
Responding to the census may happen by internet, phone or mail, and about 95 percent of U.S. households will receive a census invitation in the mail — the last 5 percent will receive a census invitation dropped off during a census taker’s visit, or will be counted in person by census takers in remote areas.
From March 12 to March 20, invitations will be sent in the mail. The invitation will direct people to respond online, and some houses will receive paper questionnaires to respond in the mail.
From March 16 through 24, reminder letters will be sent. Additional reminders will be sent, including a paper questionnaire, until the end of April, when census takers will begin visiting any house that has not responded in person — one of the most expensive portions of the census, Arsenault said.
Census takers will also count homeless people and people living in residential communities or nursing homes.
Next December, the data will begin to be shared. For more information about the census, or to learn about becoming a census taker, visit census.gov.
Mark said Western Massachusetts presents its own unique challenges to census takers; houses are often spread far apart geographically, and it’s the only region in the state that still has areas without internet.
“What’s special about this area is it’s not hard to count in the same way as places like Everett, New Bedford or Worcester,” Mark said. “It’s more the rural nature that makes it hard.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.