Nevada’s foreclosure crisis a hurdle for census

Another negative side effect of having the nation's highest foreclosure rate: It's hard to count people when you don't know where they are.

"We face the problem of looking at moving targets," Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller said at a Monday roundtable discussion about the challenges of conducting the 2010 census in the state. "We may mail a form to somebody in a vacant house who's sleeping on somebody's couch or a family of four that has been displaced."

Ross and other local officials joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and census representatives at Three Square Food Bank for the hourlong discussion about conducting a census in the foreclosure crisis, which Miller called "probably the biggest challenge we face here in Nevada."

People going through foreclosures may choose not to respond to the census this year, thinking it better to remain invisible, especially if banks or other bill collectors are looking for them, officials said.

It's important to let people know that personal census information will be kept confidential, Locke said. Census takers are not interested in people's financial status.

"That is not our business," Locke said. "Our business is to count the people living in America, wherever they are, regardless of voting status, immigration status, housing status, foreclosure status."

When it comes to the U.S. Census, every person counts. In fact, each of them is worth $917 a year to Nevada in additional federal funds.

"Especially in these tough economic times, that safety net of federal dollars can really impact the quality of life for people of Las Vegas and Nevada," Locke said.

Nevada could receive another seat in Congress if the census reveals the state's population has grown sufficiently.

Census forms with 10 questions will be mailed or delivered to all Nevada households in March. The goal of the census is to count everyone living in the United States on April 1.

Starting in May, census takers will visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.

The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once very 10 years. The first census took place in 1790.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjour nal.com or 702-383-0285.