Preparing for a complete Census count

In 2027, counties can influence how much federal funding they get through 2040 for crucial programs that support child well-being, economic development, and infrastructure, among other services. This opportunity? The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA).  

Every 10 years the Census Bureau undertakes the constitutionally required count of everyone living in the United States, called the decennial census. Counties have a vested interest in an accurate count in the decennial census, because those counts impact congressional representation and funding for more than 350 federal programs for a decade. In fiscal year 2023, Kentucky received $35.7 billion in Census-guided federal dollars.

The LUCA process offers counties a critical opportunity to impact the accuracy of the census count and is the only opportunity counties have to review and update the address list the Census Bureau uses to send decennial Census forms to. Through LUCA, counties get the opportunity to review and provide corrections to the U.S. Census Bureau’s address list. The more accurate this address list, the more likely the households in the county will be counted accurately.  

If addresses are missing, outdated, or incomplete, households may never receive Census forms or be counted. Some counties are at higher risk of having outdated address lists, including those with: 

• Recent natural disasters; 

• Significant housing changes and development; 

• Areas where converted units are common; and 

• Residents receiving mail only by P.O. Box. 

While the formal LUCA process starts in 2027, counties can begin preparations now. 

County governments maintain several datasets that provide address data, but no single dataset provides a complete picture of local housing. Counties can prepare for LUCA by identifying these datasets and cross-referencing data to identify missing units, duplicate records, or inconsistent addressing to fill gaps. Key data sources can include 911 lists, property tax and assessment records, building permits, and utility services data.  

Double-check multi-family housing and properties: 

Counties with large numbers of apartment complexes, multiple families living on one property, duplexes, and mobile home parks face unique challenges to getting counted by the Census. These properties are often underrepresented or inconsistently recorded, particularly when multiple units within a building or houses on a property are not properly identified. To prepare, local governments can verify unit counts with property managers and housing authorities, review mobile home parks for consistency between lot numbers and assigned addresses, and identify informal housing arrangements – such as multi-generational family homes – that may not appear in official records. 

Counties that have experienced floods, tornadoes, or other disasters need to take extra steps to ensure their address data reflects the ways natural disasters impact housing stock. This includes identifying addresses that no longer exist and areas where multiple families now live on one property, as well as ensuring new construction is reflected in address lists. Without these updates, outdated addresses may remain on Census lists while new housing goes uncounted. 

Next year, counties will have the opportunity to influence a decade of federal funding and political representation. 

Learn more about key dates, updates, and ways to prepare with a new toolkit from the National Association of Counties.  

For Kentucky context or support, contact Tara Grieshop-Goodwin with Kentucky Youth Advocates at (502) 895-8167 x118 or tgrieshop@kyyouth.org.