2020 Census Bureau Operational Adjustments
(1) Census Bureau Operational Adjustments in the Wake of COVID-19: Lifting up two helpful guides on census operational shifts from the U.S. Census Bureau:
As a reminder, on Friday, the Census Bureau held a press briefing on additional operational updates (recording available here) in the wake of COVID-19. The co-chairs of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force issued this statement in response.
(2) Debunk Rumor linking Federal stimulus package and census response: We're recommending that coalition members proactively debunk a rumor linking the Federal stimulus package and census response. Last week and over the weekend, a series of posts emerged on social media claiming that eligibility for relief checks intended to blunt economic fallout from Covid-19 would be determined by whether or not one has responded to the census. While not yet a major narrative, this rumor has spread across multiple platforms, including private messaging applications. The Bureau just added it to its rumors page, which means that it's worth addressing in a targeted fashion. Please share the following messaging on social media and via list-serves:
- Rumors linking the Federal stimulus package and census response are completely false and have been debunked by the media (https://www.localmemphis.com/mobile/article/news/verify/verify-proposed-stimulus-checks-census/507-4d05409d-23ed-420e-b312-8459bd29defc) and the Census Bureau (https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/rumors/stimulus-packages.html). The stimulus is meant to help people who are in very real economic need as a result of the COVID-19 health pandemic. It is not at all associated with the census. In fact, federal law keeps individual data or personal responses collected by the Census Bureau confidential for 72 years. That means the Census Bureau can’t share your personal information with other government agencies or anyone else, and your responses won’t affect any public benefits you receive.
- Now is actually a great time for you to take the census from the comfort of your own home at 2020census.gov. Remember: the census will determine how more than $1.5 trillion dollars in federal funding flow into our communities every year for the next decade and how political power is distributed. It’s important to make your voice heard. Fill out the census today.
(3) Response Rates Available: To date, at least 21% of households have responded to the 2020 Census. Data are now on the Hard to Count map developed by CUNY Mapping Service at the Center for Urban Research, CUNY Graduate Center.
Check out self-response rates to date for your state or community here.