Census deadline approaching

DAYTON–The 2020 Census deadline is just around the corner on September 30, 2020 and the power to shape Columbia County and southeastern Washington for the next ten years lays in the public’s hands.

The census provides information about public services like healthcare, law enforcement, employment and training, agriculture, food programs in school and SNAP, childcare, special education, transportation, roads, emergency assistance, and community development. Most emergency funds, such as the COVID pandemic were allocated based the 2010 census. The 2020 Census will provide necessary data to update how services and emergency funds will be handled in the future, but that can only come if each individual is counted. Make sure your community and area receive its fair share.

To complete the census online at any time, from anywhere, go to http://www.my2020census.gov, follow the prompts and use your residential address; or you may return the paper form you received in the mail but receiving a survey is for a response, only that you reside in the U. S .; or you may respond by phone at 1-844-330-2020 (Español 1-844-468-2020). There is citizenship question the survey and the information cannot be used in any other manner.

Census workers hired from the local community will go door-to-door to collect information from households that have not self-responded. If no one is home during the visit, the census worker will leave a notice on the door with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. For safety, census workers will wear face masks and follow CDC and local health guidelines while going door-to-door. All workers will complete a virtual COVID-19 training program before beginning their work. These workers will also have a valid government ID with their photograph, a U.S. department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date on the badge. They will also have a census bag and an iPad or mobile phone. To confirm a census worker’s identity call Los Angeles Regional Census Office at 213-314-6400.