Getting a complete count of our population is vital to ensuring Mendocino County and the State of California receive their fair share of federal funding, as well as proportionate representation at the federal level. In 2010, our County was under-counted, resulting in the loss of revenue for health-care, Veteran's benefits, housing, transportation, and more. We want our people counted!
We have some serious challenges. Some hard-to-count populations are non-English speakers, undocumented individuals, families living off the grid, Post Office box holders, people with a distrust of government, and the homeless. Structural challenges to a complete count include our vast geography, rural homes behind locked gates, areas with lack of GPS and internet connectivity, and poor signage on roads.
We would like to hear your ideas and suggestions about how to reach our hard-to-count populations in Mendocino County, and how to achieve a complete count of all our residents.