Return your 2020 Census form now, help stop COVID-19 spread
Editor’s Note: By now, all Americans should have received their forms for the 2020 U.S. Census. Since most of us are stuck at home during the shelter-in-place order, today is a great time to make sure you’ve submitted your Census form. If you delay, a Census worker is required to visit your home to get a count.
But the COVID-19 outbreak means we must all limit person-to-person contact, so please complete and return your form now so that this kind of contact can be minimized.
Message from Contra Costa County Administration:
What is the Census and why does it matter?
Right now, a historic count is underway supported by unprecedented state and Contra Costa County campaign aimed at reaching the hardest-to-count residents. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Census determines how billions of dollars of federal funding are distributed to each state every year for education resources, affordable housing programs, nutrition and health care services. Participating in the Census can help ensure Californians’ voices are heard in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
Although our state is ordered to shelter-in-place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been easier to respond to the Census from the comfort and safety of your own home. Every Contra Costa resident can now respond to the Census at https://2020census.gov and by phone. Contra Costa County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee, led by Chair, Supervisor Diane Burgis, BOS District III and Vice-Chair, Supervisor Candace Andersen, BOS District II is one of hundreds of regional and statewide partners that are part of California’s unprecedented Census outreach and media campaign is led by the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office. The state’s and county’s comprehensive outreach and multi-media campaign encourage all Californians to participate in the Census as soon as possible and provides them with culturally sensitive and in-language support.
High stakes
“The stakes are incredibly high – billions of dollars in federal funding for our County and representation in our government,” said Board Chair, Candace Andersen. “From day one, our focus and the key to ensuring a complete count has been to reach the hard-to-count populations in Contra Costa County. Everyone counts.”
“Contra Costa County has been preparing for this moment since late 2018, building a coalition of partners and trusted messengers to encourage everyone to be counted, counted once, and in the right place, and to want everyone to be counted”, said Supervisor Diane Burgis. “As soon as you receive your invitation, either in the mail or hand delivered by Census enumerators in areas of our county who receive mail at P.O. Boxes, please complete the survey. Your response will have an impact on Contra Costa County’s future for the next 10 years. We don’t get a do-over, so make sure that you and everyone you know is counted.”
Your Census ID
The invitation includes information on how to fill out the Census form and will include a unique Census ID linked to a physical address. You are encouraged to use your Census ID to fill out the form, but it isn’t necessary to be counted. Every Californian can now respond to the Census online at https://my2020census.gov and by phone by calling the numbers available below.
The invitations sent out on March 12 are the first notices Californians will receive by mail from the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage participation in the Census. Reminder letters will be sent from March 16 through April 3. Two additional reminders will be sent before May, when Census enumerators will begin going door to door visiting homes that have not responded.
Fill out your form by phone
Toll free numbers by language:
English: 844-330-2020
Spanish: 844-468-2020
Chinese (Mandarin): 844-391-2020
Chinese (Cantonese): 844-398-2020
Vietnamese: 844-461-2020
Korean: 844-392-2020
Russian: 844-417-2020
Arabic: 844-416-2020
Tagalog: 844-478-2020
Polish: 844-479-2020
French: 844-494-2020
Haitian Creole: 844-477-2020
Portuguese: 844-474-2020
Japanese: 844-460-2020
English (Puerto Rico residents): 844-418-2020
Spanish (Puerto Rico residents): 844-426-2020
Telephone Display Device (TDD): 844-467-2020
As of March 12, all lines will begin live customer service representative support providing information about the 2020 Census and assistance with the questionnaire. Support on all language lines will end on July 31, 2020.
For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit www.cococensus.org.