Dear friends and colleagues,
While we actively monitor COVID-19, the first ever virtual U.S. Census head count is well underway.
Emergencies like COVID-19 are precisely why the government needs accurate census data.
The 2020 Census will determine the federal funding we will get for hospitals, health care, schools, childcare and other critical services for the next 10 years.
As we “social distance”, we can still complete the 2020 Census—online, by phone, or by mail. In fact, millions of people already have!
Today we’re releasing daily 2020 Census response rates so you can see how your neighborhood is doing compared to others.
As organizers shift to phone and text-banking to promote census participation, you can pitch in by calling your neighbors to make sure they know about the 2020 Census. Today is official National Census Day—the perfect day to reach out to family and friends to encourage them to complete the census.
We’ve mapped daily response rates for 34 parishes throughout the state’s 9 metro areas. As of March 31st, 33.6 percent of households in Orleans Parish have responded, and 38.2 percent of households in East Baton Rouge Parish. Check out our maps at:
Elections are being postponed, but census counting is not.* Census data drives $1.5 trillion in federal funding each year. Let’s make sure our communities are counted.
Bringing you the data you need to make informed decisions,
The Data Center Team
Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, Rachel Weinstein, Arthur Rymer, Katrina Andry, Erica Amrine, Allison Plyer, and Dabne Whitemore
*The Census Bureau has suspended “field operations” until at least April 15th, but that largerly only means they won’t be holding any in-person gatherings to promote the 2020 Census.
