In this blog series we will be exploring 50 ways U.S. Census data is used and why you should care. Believe it or not, the results of the 2020 U.S. Census are going to affect nearly every part of your day to day life. Here's how:
For this blog post we will be focusing on the ways U.S. census data is used in the housing realm. Here are ways 11-15 that data from the U.S. census is used that affects housing in your area:
11. Forecasting Future Housing Needs for All Segments of the Population: Data from the U.S. Census is used to predict future housing for all of the U.S. population. This includes future housing needs for the obvious such as family homes and apartments, but also the less obvious such as student housing, retirement communities, and affordable housing.
12. Planning for Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Clinics, and the Location of Other Health Services: Using data from the U.S. Census, the concentration and age of a population is able to be known. With this information, developers are able to plan where best to place health services. For example, a nursing home would best be placed in an area with a high number of older individuals, and a pediatric hospital would best be placed where there is a high concentration of children.
13. Planning for Congregations: U.S. Census data can be used to understand the areas where people live and how densely populated they are. Using this information, developers can plan for spaces for people to congregate such as churches and community centers.
14. Determining Areas Eligible for Housing Assistance and Rehabilitation Loans: The U.S. Census data can be used to understand an area and its population, including factors such as average rent and average income. This information can then be used to determine which areas are eligible for things such as housing assistance and rehabilitation loans.
15. Establishing Fair market Rents and Enforcing Fair Lending Practices: U.S. Census data can be used to determine average income for an area along with the state of the housing market. From this information a fair market rent can be determined and established, preventing housing providers from price gouging. The data is also used to understand the diversity of an area and enforce fair lending practices, including preventing both intentional and unintentional discrimination.
16. The U.S. Census plays a huge role in housing. It is used to predict future housing needs for the nation. It is used to help decide where healthcare and congregations will be. It’s used to determine housing assistance and rehabilitation eligibility. It’s used to determine fair rent, enforce fair lending, and prevent discrimination. The 2020 U.S. Census will directly affect where you live. Shape your future; Complete the Census today at 2020Census.gov before it ends on September 30th