Census deadline nears; local officials urge participation
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By STHS Communication Department
Time is running out to be counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
The once-every-decade federal headcount launched in April and, despite complications resulting from COVID-19 restrictions, the Census Bureau is expected to end its 2020 operations this month. That means local residents – including St. Tammany Health System patients, colleagues and neighbors – have only days to make sure they and their families are counted.
Among other things, results from the 2020 Census will be used to:
- allocate an estimated $880 billion dollars to local communities for schools, roads and other public services;
- help communities prepare to meet transportation and emergency readiness needs;
- and determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as in the Electoral College.
As part of the Census process, basic information is gathered on all adults and children staying at a given address, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
Invitations to complete the Census went out this past spring, although all U.S. residents can still participate online at my2020census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020.
Participation takes only a few moments, and all answers are kept confidential.
A decennial Census is required by the U.S. Constitution, which has been tasking the federal government with getting an “actual enumeration” of the country’s population every decade since 1790.
To-date, St. Tammany Parish has logged the second-highest response rate among Louisiana parishes, with a 69.3% response rate, according to data provided by the Census Bureau. St. Charles is No. 1, with a 70.0% response rate.
