Census Undercount of Latino Immigrants: Impact on Health and Socials Programs in Los Angeles

Steven P. Wallace, Associate Center Director at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, discussed findings of a study he conducted with colleagues that looked at funding at risk in Los Angeles County (LAC) for health care and social services. They also did an analysis of services that could be lost if Latinos are undercounted in the census. Wallace talked about the projected funding loss for critical services in LA County, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Head Start early childhood education program, and the Health Center Program, if there is a 2%, 5%, or 10% undercount of Latinos. The study found that a worst-case scenario (10% undercount) would result in missing about 466,000 people in the census count and losing $221 million in federal funding. He also discussed the overall implications of a census undercount on critical programs and services for the county's underserved and underrepresented groups.