While filling out Census info might not be a personal priority given the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials pointed out Tuesday an accurate count will help Connecticut get its fair share of disaster assistance, along with billions of federal aid that funds everything from road repairs to education.
The Census also plays a huge role in the formula used to fund social service programs — programs that more people may need as unemployment claims skyrocket.
“There could not be a more critical time for Connecticut residents to fill out the Census,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said.
Bysiewicz made her comments during an online panel Tuesday meant to spread the word about Census and April 1 specifically: “Census Day” in the United States.
She said the state has a respectable 36 percent return rate so far in the Census, which began two weeks ago (note: After the panel talk the Census website showed Connecticut at a response rate of 37.6 percent. The U.S. average is 36.2).
Still, the majority of the state hasn’t filled out a form, which can be done online, on paper, or on the phone.
“We still need to mobilize 64 percent of our households to fill out the Census,” Bysiewicz said.
Click this link to fill out the Census: https://2020census.gov/
Around March 16 the Census mailed letters giving residents the Census website URL along with a Census ID to use on the website.
However, you can still fill out the information online without the Census ID.
You can also fill out the Census by calling 1 – 844-330‑2020. Phone lines are open every day from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. (EST).
Click here for other phone numbers to call based on the language you speak.
If you hate computers and phones, the Census will be mailing you a paper form to mail very soon.
If you still don’t respond, a Census worker will try to knock on your door — at some point. Census officials have suspended field operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments has a ton of Census-related information on its website.
Locally, people in Ansonia and Derby — already considered ‘hard to count’ communities in part because people move in and out of apartments at fairly high rates —- have responded at rates below the state average.
Ansonia’s response so far is below both the state and national averages.
Here is the Valley data, as of Tuesday (March 31):
U.S.: 36.2 percent
Connecticut: 37.6 percent
Ansonia: 35.7 percent
Derby: 36.9 percent
Oxford: 43.3 percent
Seymour: 38.7 percent
Shelton: 42.7 percent
“We are actually doing OK in comparison to the state and nation,” said Sharon Closius, The Valley Community Foundation’s president and CEO.
Closius also serves on a Valley “Complete Count Committee,” a group trying to get the word out about the importance of the Census. There are more than 100 such groups in the state.
Closius said in the Valley, her group needs to look closer at Census tracks in order to know where to focus efforts.
“This, of course, has taken a backseat because of COVID-19 and people not being outside. (That) has really challenged our ability to get the word out,” Closius said “We need to rely on social media and television and radio ads.”
