Every 10 years, the U.S. Constitution requires that all residents of the United State are counted. The 2020 Census will have a lasting impact on our country and the state of Texas. The count will determine how many members of congress can represent the interests of Texans in Washington and how hundreds of billions of federal dollars will be distributed amongst the states. Over the next decade, the Census count will help lawmakers at all levels of government, business executives, school officials, and leaders of various organizations make critical decisions specific to the needs of their communities. Therefore the Census count will have broad impacts for years to come on issues that touch our everyday life like where new schools are needed, road and infrastructure investments, and how Medicaid, CHIP and other health program funding will be allocated. An undercount would dramatically deprive various populations, community organizations, businesses, and institutions like ours of vital public and private resources.
It is extremely important that every member of our One Amazing Team engage in their civic duty and respond to the 2020 Census questionnaire as soon as possible. We should all encourage our family and friends to do the same.
As Mayor Turner recently shared, “Houston could lose about $1,578 for each person who is not counted. And if we undercount 10% of the city’s population, we could lose $3.78 billion over the course of a decade.”
In mid-March, most households received an invitation in the mail to respond to the 2020 Census, followed by multiple reminders and a paper questionnaire. Census takers are scheduled to visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census beginning in August.
There are four easy ways to respond to the Census
Secure Internet: For the first time this year, the Census will be available online.
https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-online.html
Respond by phone: The census phone lines are available at 1-800-923-8282.
https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone.html
Respond by mail: By now, every home was mailed a hard copy Census form that can be filled out and returned. Information on how to complete the Census accurately is in the link below.
https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-mail.html
In-Person interview: United States Census Bureau enumerators will visit residences that choose not to self-respond.
August 11 – October 31, 2020: Census takers will interview homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.
Need assistance?
Lines are open. CST seven days per week.
English (1-844-330-2020) and Spanish (1-844-468-2020).
If you service communities with different language needs, please check out the language-specific phone lines at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2020-census/planning-management/memo-series/2020-memo-2019_18.html