Notices to respond to the 2020 census are expected in most mailboxes over the next week. With Census Day fast approaching on April 1, a coordinated effort in Montezuma County hopes for a better response rate from its residents this time around.
The Montezuma Complete Count Committee includes school district representatives, municipal officials and others with an investment in making sure every county resident is counted.
Rachel Medina, a GIS specialist for Montezuma County, says each person missed is equal to losing about $2,300 in funding from the federal government.
“In 2010, we had a 76% response rate,” Medina said. “If you can estimate our population, you can calculate how much money we missed out on, essentially.”
For the 2020 census, the committee is aiming for at least 90% of residents to respond. But that can be tough with communities who are often undercounted, like people who are homeless.
Medina spoke with KSJD’s Daniel Rayzel on the importance of census accessibility in the county. Rayzel is late joined by Laurie Knutson, executive director of The Bridge, to hear how census takers will make sure people staying at the emergency shelter and transitional apartments are counted.
