The challenges of the past few months have been difficult to navigate for many communities, including Dallas County, but the work to get everyone counted is ramping up again.
Normally, the intake of information by the Census would have ended in July, but due to COVID-19 and the temporary suspension of field operations, it’s been extended until Oct. 31 to ensure an accurate population count.
The efforts have yielded some success. More than 57.8 percent of Dallas County households— 55.0 in the city of Irving —have filled out their Census forms.
Through the summer, Dallas County Counts campaign staff and volunteers will ensure that those who have yet to respond have the information necessary to get counted. Wearing their distinctive campaign uniforms, they will continue to let people know about the variety of ways to fill out the Census. For the past few months, they have been at such places as the Dallas Farmer’s Market, the Opal & Smith Food Pantry, the Hunger Busters Food Pantry, Crossroads Community Service Location and Irving Hispanic Heritage Ambassadors.
“The pandemic led to changing a lot of the ways we had planned on sharing information with Dallas County residents, especially those in hard-to-count areas,” said Sophia Johnson, president of ABI, the ad agency leading Census outreach. “But it never stopped us from getting the message out there about the incredible importance of participating in the Census this year. And we are ready to step up our efforts in areas that have yet to respond as the new deadline approaches.”
Census counts are used to determine allocation of crucial funds and resources for such services as health, education, and infrastructure, as well as to determine representation at all government levels. Without an accurate count, Texas and Dallas County could miss out on billions in federal funds and additional representation in Congress.
During the next few weeks and into fall, Dallas County Counts campaign staff and volunteers also will be working with schools and walking neighborhoods in hard-to-count areas to share information like how all answers are confidential and protected by law for at least 70 years and how the Census does not include any questions about citizenship.
For information about the Census in several languages and to fill out the form online, visit www.2020census.gov. The census can also be filled out by phone calling 844-330-2020 or on paper using the postage-paid form that was mailed to households in March and dropping it in the mail.
