Organizations throughout the country, including Texas youth and family service providers, have been actively outreaching to hard-to-count communities since mid-March to ensure that everyone is counted in the 2020 Census. Now with only six weeks left due to a shortened timeline (see below), Texas needs everyone to help with a final push to get our state counted to secure the resources and representation necessary for our communities to thrive.
New Dates for the Census (operation changes)
The 2020 Census continues to make operational changes as we near the end of the data collection period, now scheduled to end September 30th, 2020. Please see important dates below:
Aug 11 – Sept 30
Census takers begin following up with households who have not responded by going door to door.
Sept 3
Last day for group quarters to submit their enumeration.
Sept 22 – 24
Service-Based Enumeration: The census is working with service providers at soup kitchens, shelters, and regularly scheduled food vans to count the people they serve.
Sept 3 – 28
Enumeration of Transitory Locations: Census takers count people staying at campgrounds, RV parks, marinas, and hotels if they do not usually live elsewhere.
Sept 30
Last day to fill out the census.
Service Based Enumeration
Do you operate an emergency shelter and have not yet been contacted by the census? Do you have residential facilities and have not yet completed a group quarters count? The census will be sending census workers to temporary shelters and other group quarters to complete a count of residents on September 22-24th as a point in time count. If you have not yet been in contact with someone from your area census office, please contact Sarah Prager at sprager@tnoys.org and we will connect you.
Census Takers (Non-response Follow up)
Census takers are currently out in the community knocking on doors. According to the Census website: “Census takers will wear masks and follow local public health guidelines when they visit your home. All census takers complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols before beginning their work in neighborhoods.” Census takers will knock on doors from 9am – 9pm; will present an ID badge, and have a Census bag, and Census-Bureau issued electronic device. Find out more about census takers here and use this flyer (English or Spanish) to notify people in your community. Tell your clients: People can still complete the census by self-responding online, by phone, or by mail, and reduce the chances of a census taker coming to their door.
There’s Still Time to Get Out the Count!
Youth and Family Service Providers still have time to help their community get counted! With the shortened timeline for data collection, our hard to count communities such as highly mobile populations, communities of color, Black communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, and communities that speak languages other than English among others, are at an even higher risk of being undercounted. Here are some actions your organization can take to help ensure EVERYONE gets counted and Texans receive adequate resources and the representation we deserve:
- Connect with your area census office or complete count committee. They could use help identifying locations where people experiencing homelessness may seek shelter; or may have additional ways to support complete counts.
- Do you operate an emergency shelter? Contact your area census office if you have not yet been contacted to set up a time for a census taker to count your residents during the service-based enumeration.
- Talk with your clients. Many people may not know about the census or may have misconceptions about the census. TNOYS has compiled resources to help providers talk with clients about the census to dispel myths and encourage participation.
Use digital media to raise awareness and mobilize your community. Check out TNOYS social media graphics, toolkit, and videos.