Last week, we announced the launch of our equity initiative which seeks to reduce health disparities and work toward racial equity in health. On Tuesday, our President and CEO Nikki Highsmith Vernick had an op-ed presenting this initiative and opposing the addition of a citizenship question in the 2020 census. To the Horizon Foundation, equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live a long, healthy life which is why we and more than 300 foundations from across the country actively oppose adding the citizenship question to the 2020 census. Adding the citizenship question would decrease participation which could lead to an undercount and place funding for health and social services at risk.
Research shows that communities of color face higher levels of death, chronic disease and disabilities. The data gathered from the census is used to distribute over $675 billion to fund vital health and social services.
Read the full op-ed on why a census citizenship question would hurt equity efforts.
