Census 2020
Why the Census is Critical for Illinois
A complete, accurate census count is critical for everyone in our state. The results will affect the allocation of billions of dollars in federal funding and determine how many legislators Illinois has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Right now, Illinois receives $20 billion in federal funding through U.S. Census data, which supports things like housing, health care, education, emergency services, and more. Vital programs that help low-income households, rural communities, and communities of color depend on this funding. If Illinoisans are not counted during the upcoming 2020 Census, fewer resources will come to the state.
Our Outreach
Housing Action is joining other groups in our state to ensure that Hard-to-Count communities are included. Our focus is on Suburban Cook County, and we are working alongside many allies on a robust, non-partisan Get Out the Count initiative that focuses on racial and ethnic minority populations, renters, people experiencing homelessness, and low-income populations. Together, we can ensure that our community receives the resources it needs.
Join Us
Interested in doing education in the suburbs of Cook County? Want us to join you for a Q&A session on the census? Need outreach materials to share?
Resources
There are a lot of resources out there to help you understand and spread the word about the 2020 Census. Here are some we recommend.
Housing Action Toolkit
To make life easier for our partner organizations to spread the word, we’ve created a basic communications toolkit with a sample timeline, messages, and graphics for sharing on social media and in newsletters.
National Resource Library
The Census Bureau has compiled a wide array of educational materials, including flyers and fact sheets for specific audiences, which you can download as PDFs. If you would like printed versions, email us at census@housingactionil.org.
Cook County Toolkit
The Cook County toolkit includes a PSA, postcards, social media graphics and text, stickers, and posters of several sizes in both English and Spanish. The materials have bright, dynamic graphic design that helps catch the eye.
Learn More
Want to learn more about the census? Here are some places to get started.