Local agencies working together on Census 2020
Many things might keep some people from taking part in the upcoming census in the county rated as the number one hard-to-count area in California. Calexico Mayor Bill Hodge said fear is one of them.
” Because of the Trump Draconian policies against immigration and mainly people of color. So, there’s a lot of fear, a lot of fear, ” Hodge said.
Imperial County, United Way of San Diego and local agencies came together on Wednesday in El Centro to develop a plan.
Michele Silverthorn , United Way San Diego, said, ” Out of the 35 census tracks in Imperial County, twenty-five are considered hard to count. These are areas that might have low-broadband or no-broadband access, individuals with limited English proficiency, different types of housing or homeless individuals. ”
The county has $284,000 to distribute among local non-profit agencies which will help educate the public.
Esperanza Colio-Warren , I.C. Administration, said, “Agencies that the people are familiar with and that they do trust so they can help us in reaching out to that community.”
The census forms must be filled online after receiving a code through the mail.
“You have to go to a kiosk or you have to go on your home computer and with that code that you’re going to receive fill the census,” Colio-Warren said.
Hodge said his city wanted to be creative in their outreach activities – throwing a public party, for example.
” A social recreational event. Get them out of their houses, but we do it in their neighborhood. We can have a booth there prior to the date of signing, giving out information, in different languages, ” Hodge said.
Silverthorn said an inaccurate population count could leave the county without hundreds of thousands of state funds.
“Funding happens for things like schools and roads, Calfresh , those things that we depend on for family resources,” Silverthorn said.
If anyone wants to volunteer in the census effort, they can contact Imperial County Administration at their website. Census 2020 starts on April first.
