February 18, 2012

Mayor Emanuel Challenges the 2010 Census Count

An Accurate Count Would Result in an Additional $3 Million in Annual Federal Funding for Low-Income Households and Infrastructure Projects

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has requested that the U. S. Census Bureau review Chicago’s findings that challenge the 2010 Census count.

“The accuracy of the Census is of critical importance for its role in determining federal funding distributed to our city,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “In order to ensure Chicago residents receive their full share of funding, it is my responsibility to work in partnership with the Census Bureau to correct any errors that may have occurred in 2010.”

In its first submission to the Census’ Count Question Resolution (CQR) Program, the City has presented 66 census blocks covering 23 wards which the City estimates  may contain as many as 1,160 additional housing units and as many as  2, 350 additional people.  The CQR program provides state and local governments the opportunity to challenge 2010 Census housing unit and group quarters counts.

The City’s analysis used a combination of utility account data, Certificates of Occupancy, and field research to draw a comparison with 2010 Census total unit counts.  The City discovered that missing units appear to be found throughout the entire city in multiple types of residential neighborhoods involving various types of housing units.

The City stands to gain as much as $1,200 per year in federal funds over the next ten years for every additional person added to its count. A gain of this size in population could result in an increase in federal funding by $2.8 million annually. The Census counts determine the geographic distribution of a substantial proportion of federal assistance, particularly in the form of grants to aid low-income households and support highway infrastructure.

Other cities, like New York City, Houston, Miami, Des Moines, Detroit, Nashville, and Washington, DC have taken similar action.

 

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