Being counted in the Census is IMPORTANT. Census data is the critical resource for the allocation of resources in the US. Census data guides how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities each year. During the current pandemic, Census data is being used to distribute meals every day to children while the schools are closed. Census data is used now to distribute funds to hospitals, first responders, and non-profit organizations who are assisting our residents.
The goal of the Census is to count every person living in the United States once, and only once, and in the right place. By now, you should have received at least one invitation to respond to the 2020 Census (they were mailed out March 12, and then a follow-up a few days later). If you have not received a Census invitation, you can go to www.census.gov and click on “Respond” to take the Census using your physical address. If you have already responded (online, by phone, or by mail) you may still get reminders because of delays with delivering mail.
Update: As of Monday, 51.7% of Washington Grove households have already responded according to this Census response rates website:
https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html.
It’s time to respond! Thanks!