Did you know that the 2020 census will have an impact on your health?
Here’s how: more than $675 billion in federal funds will be distributed based on census data. Medicare health insurance, prevention and substance use treatment programs, senior housing and public schools all get federal funds.
The census is all about representation. If everyone who currently lives in Dallas County is included in the 2020 count, then the federal government will perceive our communities as places that need fire protection, roads, hospitals and all of the other services that shape our lives.
The census will reveal important characteristics about our communities, such as how many individuals over age 65 live here. Again, this will help community planners with decisions about availability of public transportation, senior meal sites and homemaker services.
Another way the census could directly impact your finances is that the U.S. Census Bureau is now hiring census takers, clerks and field supervisors. These jobs are a good fit for retirees, students and people looking for temporary employment or for a second job. The hours are flexible and so could include days, evenings or weekends. The hourly wage for a census taker is $21.50.
To apply for a job with the U.S. Census Bureau, visit the bureau’s website.
