Census on track despite outbreak

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The 2020 census is on time, on budget and on track with its mission to count every person living in the country once, only once, and in the right place despite the coronavirus outbreak, according to Tammi Hanshaw, Wyoming partnership specialist. Although adjustments have been made to original calendar dates because of health and safety concerns, she said, that does not change the mission of the 2020 census. 
“The Census Bureau has requested that we postpone Mobile Questionnaire Assistance events led by the census until at least April 13,” Hanshaw said. 
The U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging more virtual events and meetings to help keep the mission on track. 
The census is conducted once every 10 years, with the goal of counting every person living in the nation once in that year and in their rightful place, according to Jennifer Hillmann, media specialist for the census serving  Colorado, Wyoming and Kansas. 
“Everyone matters and responding to the census helps communities get their fair share of federal funding. Census data guides how billions of dollars in funding gets distributed to states and communities each year and helps communities create jobs, providing housing, prepare for emergencies and build schools, roads and hospitals,” Hillmann said. “The census also helps determine how many seats a state receives in Congress, and state and local governments use the data to redraw boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts and school districts, adapting to population shifts.” 
Kicking off the 2020 census is an invitation to participate in the census. Households across the country began receiving their census invitation to participate by mail on March 12. This invitation includes an identification number that is tied to the address. 
“It should be mentioned that 95% of households will receive an invitation letter in
the mail,” Hillmann said. “The other 5% include households counted through different operations.” 
The 5% of households who will be counted differently include those who receive their mail in P.O. boxes, those in areas of low internet connectivity and those who live in what are considered group quarters, such as college dorms or nursing homes. 
“That 5% includes Wyoming’s rural/remote areas and addresses, where a packet will be hand-delivered to your door,” Hillmann said. “This packet will include the invitation to participate by mail, the phone number to call and the paper form.” 
According to Hillmann, responding to the census has never been easier and includes submitting your information by mail, over the phone or online. She said that the quicker a household responds, the less likely there will be someone knocking on their door once staff is put out in the field to follow up on those who do not return their census information. 
“We will be delaying the early nonresponse follow-up operation from April 9 to April 23,” Hanshaw said. 
By mid-April, all households that have not yet responded by phone or online will receive a paper questionnaire. 
To receive more information about the 2020 census, visit 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020. Also available over the phone is assistance with the questionnaire.
The goal, Hanshaw said, is to have the 2020 census completed by July 31, although recent updates in dates related to the coronavirus situation might require additional adjustments to the time frame.