Study Finds Cities Unprepared for 2010 Census

WASHINGTON – With the 2010 census looming, major U.S. cities whose residents are at high risk of being missed are struggling with a shortage of money and manpower to prepare for an accurate count.

A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, released Monday, examined preparation efforts in 11 major cities. It found only five cities had committed public funds to census outreach — Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Phoenix and Baltimore.

When cities had allotted funds, most were at significantly lower levels compared to 2000. City officials expressed concern about a possible poor turnout in the high-stakes count that begins April 1. They cited difficulties of finding residents due to home foreclosures and skittish immigrants wary of filling out government forms.