Preparations - 2020 Census
In This Section
Hard-to-count population – 2020 Census
Understand the typology of hard-to-count (HTC)
In every census, there are certain socioeconomic and demographic factors that include age, housing status, and language that can influence self-response. The traditional socioeconomic and demographic factors that have tended to correlate with lower levels of self-response have included:
- People of color
- Low-income or no-income households
- Populations under 5 years of age
- Rural residents
- Limited English Proficiency
- Frequent movers or renters
- Large or single-parent households
- People experiencing homelessness
- Foreign-born residents
- Low educational attainment households
- People who distrust government authorities or could be targets of law enforcement
The 2020 Census is the first occasion that online is the Census Bureau’s preferred method of self-response. New socioeconomic and demographic factors may influence response rates, including older residents, households without computers or homes with inadequate access to the internet. You will want to reflect on your community and decide what factors might have an influence on participation – and it may differ from that which has been true in the past.
See it in maps
OFM
For each county in Washington, OFM has created tract and block group-level maps highlighting hard-to-count areas based on a variety of factors related to response rates.
U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau’s planning database, which combines information from the last census and the American Community Survey, can be used to identify hard-to-survey areas. The Bureau developed the Response Outreach Area Mapper to use the planning database’s information to identify hard-to-count areas.
Other data
Improving the Count of Young Children
The 2010 census missed more than 10 percent of all children under age 5 living in the United States. The failure to accurately capture data on young children has serious consequences for them, their families, their communities and the nation – with many of those consequences lasting for at least 10 years. The Count All Kids Committee is working with the Census Bureau to help them improve their plans to reach out to families with young children. Share this short YouTube video with your networks to help spread the word about the importance of counting all kids!
Internet access
Data from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey highlights households (number and percentage): (1) with no internet access, and (2) with access to the internet only through their cellphones. Data posted includes information by county, city/town and census designated places. This information will be important for communities throughout the state as everyone organizes for the first decennial census in March and April 2020 where the preferred method of self-response will be the internet.
In addition, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mapped the number of residential fixed Internet access service connections per 1,000 households as of December 2016 based on broadband subscribership data. The map gives a view down to the census tract of service exceeding 200 kbps in at least one direction and service of 10 Mbps downstream/1 Mbps upstream.
Limited English proficiency
Counting the homeless population
The Census Bureau has defined an area as hard to count (HTC) if the self-response rate in the 2010 Census was 73% or less.
The Census Bureau’s Planning Database includes HTC scores along with American Community Survey (ACS) data at the tract and block group level. You can use this data to target your 2020 Complete Count efforts.
- Planning database
- Planning database WebEx presentation
- Response Outreach Area Mapper application
- Census Engagement Navigator – this interactive, data visualization allows users to quickly understand what areas had high or low return rates in the 2010 census, and the current demographic makeup of these neighborhoods.
- Outreach Toolkit
Counting people experiencing homelessness during the 2020 Census
The intent of the 2020 Census is to count everyone living in the United States, including people experiencing homelessness or living in transitory locations. General information about how the homeless will be counted and categorized in the 2020 Census results is provided below, as well as references to more detailed explanations.
- The 2020 Census will count people wherever they live on Census Day (April 1, 2020)—or where they are staying that day if they have no permanent place to live.
- The Census Bureau recognizes that people experiencing homelessness live in a variety of situations, such as temporarily staying with family or friends, living at a shelter, living outside, living in a tent or living in a car or recreational vehicle (RV). The Census Bureau also recognizes that some people are living in transitory locations without another usual home elsewhere.
- The effort to count people experiencing homelessness at service locations and pre-identified outdoor locations is referred to as Service-Based Enumeration (SBE). SBE will count people at shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food vans and target non-sheltered outdoor locations on March 30, March 31 and April 1, 2020.
- The Bureau’s Enumeration at Transitory Locations Operation (ETL) enumerates people who are living in special locations such as recreational vehicle parks, campgrounds, racetracks, circuses, carnivals, marinas, hotels and motels and who do not have a Usual Home Elsewhere. ETL data collection will be conducted from April 9 to May 4, 2020.
- In the summer of 2019, OFM will submit as many SBE and ETL locations as it has time to collect in the first half of the year. Participation in the New Construction Program (September-November 2019) will be an important—and last—chance for all localities to update information about homeless shelters and transitory locations.
The process of service-based enumeration and enumeration at transitory locations builds on decades of work with national and community-based organizations and will involve:
- Work with state, local and tribal governments nationwide to update contact and address information for service-based locations (including shelters, soup kitchens and regularly scheduled mobile food vans) and transitory locations.
- Work with local groups to identify outdoor locations where people are known to sleep, such as under bridges and in tent camps, or to stay temporarily.
- Work with local community to identify recruiting needs that may include specific language skills and cultural facilitators.
While the tables for the 2020 Census results have not been finalized, the enumerated homeless population will likely be represented in the group quarter population under the “other noninstitutional facilities” category. This category includes the homeless, adults living in group homes, adults living in residential treatment centers and those living in maritime/merchant vessels, job corp centers, religious group quarters, natural disaster housing and domestic violence shelters.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides official statistics on the total population experiencing homelessness through their annual Point-in-Time counts. You can find the latest counts for Washington on the website of Washington’s Department of Commerce.
For more details
For more information on the Census Bureau’s detailed plans for 2020, see:
- Detailed Operational Plan for: 15. Group Quarters Operation – Pages 51-51 provide information on Service-Based Enumeration (SBE).
- 2020 Census Operational Plan v.4 – Pages 118-119 provide detail about the Enumeration at Transitory Locations (ETL).
Background
For information on the counts from the 2010 Census, see:
- The 2010 Census table PCT20 on Group Quarters Population by Group Quarters Type
- “The Emergency and Transitional Shelter Population: 2010” special report
Other sources of information on the population experiencing homeless include:
2020 hard-to-count areas – interactive maps
Timeline – 2020 Census
Updated timeline of operations due to COVID-19
The decennial U.S. Census has been characterized as the largest peacetime mobilization. It’s a complex exercise that involves 35 separate operations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Just as the data collection effort began, the nation shut down due to COVID-19.
| Activity/operation | Original schedule | New schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Self-response phase – online, phone, and mailed self-responses continue throughout the data collection process. | March 12-July 31 | March 12- September 30 |
| Group quarters (e-response and paper enumeration) | April 2–June 5 | April 2- September 3 |
| In-person group quarters enumeration | April 2–June 5 | July 1 – September 3 |
| Update leave – census takers drop off invitations to respond and paper questionnaires at the front doors of 5 million households stateside while updating the addresses. | March 15–April 17 | Resumed May 11 |
| Non-response follow-up (NRFU) – census takers will conduct in-person interviews of households that have not self-responded. | May 13–July 31 | July 23 – September 30 |
| Mobile questionnaire assistance – Census Bureau staff assists people with responding online at places people gather (grocery stores, etc.). | March 30-July 31 | July 13 – September 30 |
| Service-based enumeration – working with service providers at soup kitchens, shelters, and regularly scheduled food vans to count the people they serve. | March 30-April 1 | September 22-24 |
| Count of people experiencing homelessness outdoors | April 1 | September 23-24 |
| Enumeration at transitory locations – census takers count people staying at campgrounds, RV parks, marinas, and hotels if they do not usually live elsewhere. | April 9-May 4 | September 3-28 |
| Deliver apportionment counts to the president | By December 31, 2020 | April 26, 2021 |
| Deliver redistricting counts to the states | By April 1, 2021 | Late August 2021 |
2020 Census promotional materials
These promotion materials are available for download here.
Download materials
OFM contracts and partners by county
Looking to partner with an organization in your area to reach? Check the list below for organizations with direct and indirect state contracts for 2020 census outreach.
List of organizations with direct and indirect state contracts for 2020 Census outreach
This list is current as of Jan 23, 2020.
- African Community Housing & Development
- American Indian Community Center
- American Telangana Association of Seattle
- ANSIL Hall
- Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS)
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Seattle
- Asian Pacific Cultural Center
- Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment (APACE)
- APACEVotes
- Asian Pacific Islander Coalition South Puget Sound
- Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Spokane
- Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Yakima
- Associated Students of Pacific Lutheran University/Lute Vote
- Ati-Atihan Group of Washington
- Bataan-Corregidor Survivors’ Association
- Benton City Chamber of Commerce
- Big Water Consulting
- Black Lives Matter Seattle King County
- Blue Mountain Action Council
- Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound
- Brave Sprout Productions
- La Casa Hogar
- Carl Maxey Center
- Casa Latina
- Catholic Community Service of Western Washington
- Center for Human Services
- El Centro de la Raza
- Centro Latino
- Cham Refugees Community
- Changing the Gray Street Outreach
- Channel A TV
- Chelan Douglas Community Action Council
- Chief Seattle Club
- Children’s Museum of Tacoma
- Chinese Information & Service Center
- Chirwa
- City of Anacortes
- City of Burien
- City of Kent
- City of Lakewood
- City of Medical Lake
- City of Mt. Vernon
- City of Redmond
- City of Renton
- City of Seattle
- City of Shoreline
- City of Toledo
- City of Vancouver
- City of Wenatchee
- Clallam County
- Coalition of Filipino American Organizations
- Coalition of Immigrants, Refugees, and Communities of Color (CIRCC)
- Coastal Community Action Program
- Communities in Schools of Lakewood
- Communities in Schools of Tacoma
- Communities of Color Coalition (C3) Snohomish
- Communities of Color Coalition (Clark/Cowlitz)
- Community Action Center
- Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties
- Community Action of Skagit County
- Community Health Worker Program
- Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees
- Community for the Advancement of Family Education/La Comunidad para el Avance Familiar Educativa (CAFÉ)
- Community to Community Development
- Confederated Tribes and Banks of the Yakama Nation
- Congolese Integration Network
- Connect Casino Road
- Connel Chamber of Commerce
- Council for the Homeless
- Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Washington
- Cowlitz Indian Tribe
- Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Tacoma Alumnae Chapter
- Eastside Language Learners Alliance
- Eastside Refugee & Immigrant Coalition
- Eatonville Area Council/Eatonville Family Agency
- Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Emergency Food Network
- Entre Hermanos
- Equal Rights Washington
- Eritrean Association of Greater Seattle
- Ethiopian Community in Seattle
- Fab-5
- The Family Guide
- Family Learning Center
- Fetu Ta’iala Learning Center
- The Fig Tree
- FilAm Journal/FilAm Radyo
- Filipino American Community of Brainbridge Island & Vicinity
- Filipino American Educators of Washington
- Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
- Filipino American Resources – Educational Advancement
- Filipino Association of Kitsap County
- Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest
- First 5 Fundamentals, DBA Project Child Success
- Formerly Incarcerated Group Healing Together (F.I.G.H.T.)
- Forward Operating Base Hope
- Friends of the Black Lens/Carl Maxey Center
- Friends of KSPS
- Friends of Little Saigon
- Gambian Talents Promotion
- Grace Clinic
- Grays Harbor Council of Governments
- Greater Seattle Business Association
- Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
- Haida Heritage
- Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center
- Helping Link
- Hilltop Action Coalition
- HIP of Spokane County Dba/Community-Minded Enterprises
- Hispanic Disability Support of Southwest Washington
- Hispanic Business/Professional Association
- Hmong Association of Washington
- Holly Ridge Center
- Holy Rosary School Snohomish
- Homage Senior Services
- HopeSource
- House of Matthew Permanent & Supportive
- Ilocandian Club of Kitsap County
- IMAN Kirkland
- Indian Association of Western Washington
- Inland Boatmen’s Union Workers
- Innovia Foundation
- Intercultural Commission of St. Thomas More
- Interim Community Development Association
- International Community Health Service
- International Drop-In Center Filipino Senior & Family Services
- Iraqi Community Center of Washington
- Jewish Family Service
- Jefferson County
- Khmer Anti-Deportation Advocacy Group (KhAAG) of Washington
- Kitsap Community Foundation
- Kitsap Community Resources
- Kitsap County Aging and Long-Term Care Division
- Kitsap County Human Services
- Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center
- Kittitas County
- Korean American Coalition of Washington
- Korean Community Service Center
- Lake Washington Institute of Technology
- Latino Community Fund
- Latino Educational Training Institute
- Latinos en Spokane
- Latinx Unidos of the South Sound (LUSS)
- League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Tri-Cities
- Leggette ETI
- LGBTQ Allyship
- The Lord’s Neighborhood Diner
- Lummi Nation
- Mabuhay Foundation
- Maharashtra Mandal of Seattle
- Marshallese Community Advisory Board
- Mirror Ministries
- More Equitable Democracy
- Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center
- Muslim Community & Neighborhood Association
- Muslim Community Resource Center
- Na’ah Illahee Fund
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Bremerton/Kitsap Unit 1134
- NAACP/Snohomish
- National Federation of Filipino American Associations
- The Native Project
- Nepal Seattle Society
- New Hope
- New Life Community Development Agency
- The Noble Foundation
- Nooksack Indian Tribe
- North Mason Resources
- Northwest Kenyan Community Association
- Nuestra Casa
- NW & Associates
- Odyssey World International Education Services
- Okanogan Countu Community Action Council
- Olympic Community Action Program
- OneAmerica
- Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Washington
- Opportunity Center of Orting
- Opportunity Council
- Orting Recovery Café
- Our Sisters’ House
- Outsiders Inn
- Pacific Islander Community Alliance
- Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle
- Palmer Scholars
- Pangasinan Association of the Pacific Northwest
- Para los Niños
- Parenting Matters Foundation/First Teacher
- Parque Padrinos
- Partnering for Youth Achievement (PYA)
- Partners for Early Learning
- Peace Works United
- People of Color Commmunity Coalition in Thurston County
- Pierce County AIDS Foundation
- Pierce County Rural Library District
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and Northern Idaho
- Political Destiny
- Project Girl Mentoring Program
- Prosser Economic Development Association
- Proyecto MoLE
- Puyallup Watershed Initiative
- Pyramid Inc.
- Quinault Indian Nation
- Raising Girls
- Raiz of Planned Parenthood
- Rebuilding Hope!
- Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest
- Refugee Women’s Alliance
- Roth Creative Services
- Rural Resources Community Action
- Safe Streets Campaign
- Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe
- Scarlet Road
- Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority
- Seattle Foundation
- Seattle Mabuhay Lions Club
- Share (Vancouver)
- Shared Housing Services
- Skagit County
- Snohomish County
- Solace
- Somali Community Services of Seattle
- Somali Family Safety Task Force
- Somali Health Board
- Southeast Washington Economic Development Association
- South Park Information and Resource Center
- Southwest Washington Communities United for Change
- Sovereignty Hub
- Spokane Area Tenants United
- Spokane Coalition of Color
- Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition
- Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
- Spreeha
- Suquamish Tribe
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
- Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities (TACID)
- Tacoma Community House
- Tacoma Housing Authority
- Tacoma Recovery Center/Tacoma Recovery Cafe
- Tacoma Refugee Choir
- Tacoma Urban League
- Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity
- Tasveer
- Tenants Union of Washington State
- Thin Air Community Radio
- Thurston County
- Thurston Regional Planning Council
- Tibetan Association of Washington
- Tilikum
- Timberland Regional Library
- Tlingit & Haida
- Tri-Cities Hisipanic Chamber of Commerce
- Tri-Cities Immigrant Coalition
- Triumphant Life Workshop Center
- Turning Point
- United Indian of All Tribes Fund
- United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance
- United Way of Benton & Frankling County
- United Way of King County
- United Way of Kitsap County
- University of Puget Sound
- University of Washington South Asian Student Association
- Unkitawa
- Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
- Utsav USA
- Visayan Circle
- Volunteer Food and Resource Center
- Wakulima
- Washington Bus Education Fund
- Washington Census Alliance
- Washington Communities for Children
- Washington-Gorge Action Programs
- Washington Immigrant Solidarity Netowk
- Washington Nonprofits
- Washington Progress Fund
- Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders
- Washington State Community Action Partnership
- Washington State Council of African Leaders Coalition
- Washington Technology Industry Association
- West African Community Council
- West Central Community Center
- West Richland Chamber of Commerce
- Whatcom Council of Governments
- Whatcom County
- Work Opportunities
- World Relief
- The “X” Project
- Yakama Yakima El Censo Coalition
- Your Money Matters Mentoring
- YWCA Spokane
- The Zone Project/NECCA