Everybody counts in the 2020 Census. That includes children under five, people experiencing homelessness, and the auntie that has been staying with your family for the past seven months. With folks in self-quarantine and socially distancing in places they normally are not, who counts and how?
College student?
College students, listen up! If you are no longer on campus or are displaced by the pandemic, make sure you still count yourself where you would normally be on April 1st.
If it’s off-campus housing, make sure you work with your roommates to fill out the census together at that address! If you normally would be in a dorm, your school or university should be already counting you through group quarters.
Challenge five friends to our #DecadeGlowUp challenge to show how important it is to take the Census every 10 years.
Those experiencing homelessness?
The U.S. Census Bureau will devote three days to count people who are experiencing homelessness throughout the country. As of now, these days are April 29th-May 1st but it could change. The Bureau will follow three steps to make sure everyone is counted. They are:
- Counting people who are in shelters
- Counting people at soup kitchens and mobile food vans
- Counting people in non-sheltered, outdoor locations, such as tent encampments and on streets.
Have family members staying with you?
Do you have an Uncle staying in your living room for over half the year? Or a family friend that has moved into the guest room? If you have anybody else staying in your household for over 6 months (6 months and a millisecond) then they should be counted as part of your household. Even if they are not a direct family member.
Are you staying with family or friends that you normally wouldn’t have been with last week on April 1st? Then count yourself in the household you would normally be staying in (whether it’s at an off-campus apartment, a group home, or a studio apartment in another state). You can still take the 2020 Census online without the unique census ID sent to you in the mail.
Children and babies?
Did you know children under five are one of the most undercounted populations in the United States? When you fill out the census, make sure to count everyone, including young children and babies when you fill out the form. If your child was born on or before April 1st, 2020 then they need to be counted in the census.
Group Quarters?
Group quarters are places where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. If you are considered part of group quarters, the person or administrator in charge of your residence will ensure that the entire residence is counted in the 2020 Census.
Not sure if you live in a group quarter? Some examples of group quarters include:
- College/university student housing (i.e., dorms, residence halls, etc.)
- Residential treatment centers
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Group homes
- Military barracks
- Correctional facilities
- Maritime and military vessels
If you live in one of these residencies or have been a part of a group quarter for over six months you will already be counted and there is no need for you to fill out the census individually. For more information on group quarters, click here.
If you haven’t already, you can fill out the census online at my2020census.gov. If you cannot access the census ID sent to you in the mail, or have misplaced the document, don’t worry. You can still take the 2020 Census online without it.
With everyone at home and spending more time on social media, let’s remind everyone to take the census! Tell us you took the census and tag us on social media @APIAVote, then challenge five friends to do the same. Use #AAPI2020.
