What is the Census?
The Census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
It’s also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790.
Why Does Responding Matter?
In our rural region, with a growing and traditionally “hard-to-count” population, and COVID-19 wreaking havoc on public health, local businesses, employment and more, it is even more important now for everyone to be counted.
A George Washington Institute analysis shows that a 1 percent undercount in the 2010 decennial census would have resulted in a loss of nearly $300 million annually in federal funds to Texas, or $1,161 per person missed. This funding impacts many federal assistance programs including education, medical and emergency services, food assistance, infrastructure and more. Read here about how Census data determines how Federal funds are distributed.
Census Bureau field operations will be re-launching in June. Field staff will complete a virtual COVID-19 training to ensure they follow appropriate social distancing protocols and all appropriate health and safety guidance. Census Bureau is providing face masks and gloves for employees to wear. In addition, we will provide employees with hand sanitizer.
In areas that have not yet received the Census questionnaire, workers are slated to deliver them to residences from June 13 until July 9. When received, respond using your Census ID number by mail, by phone 844-330-2020 (English) 844-468-2020 (Spanish) or on-line by visiting: my2020census.gov. If you previously responded without your Census ID, you can respond again using your Census ID so that your response can be matched with where you live. This may eliminate the need to visit you in person to collect your data.
Responding is in all of our interests. Remember Everyone Counts!