By Danny Maiuri, Public Relations and Information Officer

This year, Rebuilding Together New Orleans is partnering with Nonprofits Count and the U.S. Census Bureau to inform New Orleans residents of the importance of completing their 2010 Census data.

In January 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau increased the city’s 2007 population estimates by 50,000 and then again by 25,000 in early January 2010. Not only is the magnitude of the increase substantial, but these changes will have significant implications for the city’s long-term recovery. These increases and the misreporting that necessitated them highlights how important accurate Census data is for the country and especially for New Orleans.

City officials estimate that the most recent population update brings along with it a $15 million dollar increase in federal funding for education, healthcare and programs for children. Nonprofit Counts, a program of the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, also reports that communities gain an estimated $1.2 million dollars per 100 people over a ten year period. From political representation to public works infrastructure and private business investments, changes in census numbers can have a tremendous funding impact on a city, particularly on one which already has devoted significant resources to a large scale recovery effort.

Rebuilding Together New Orleans recognizes the potential benefits of accurate census data and how important a fully representative count is for local residents. When the low-income elderly, disabled, first responder and single guardian homeowners that RTNO works with return home, their journey towards recovery continues and is affected by factors influenced by census data. Community infrastructure, health and education systems – entities and programs that are largely funded by federal and state funding that is allocated based on census data – need to accommodate these returning homeowners and their families. Understanding this importance, RTNO will be encouraging homeowners throughout the coming months leading up to the April 1st deadline to fill out the 10 question census form and will be acting as an official Be Counted Site where community members may pick up census forms if they lost or did not receive a form.

With much of Orleans Parish identified as being Hard to Count, the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to local nonprofits to aid in accessing all New Orleans residents. Nonprofits are in the unique position of working with hard-to-reach people and many organizations like RTNO, have a vested interest in the benefits that a successful census will bring. Understanding that rebuilding a home is only part of ensuring the safety, health and independence of the homeowner, Rebuilding Together New Orleans is committed to taking action on multiple fronts to ensure that the recovery effort of New Orleans is successful.

To learn more about Nonprofits Count, please visit www.nonprofitscount.org. To learn more about the 2010 Census, please visit www.2010census.gov.