Census takers will soon begin visiting households that have not responded to the 2020 Census.
The U.S. Census Bureau has launched a Stop the Knock campaign to encourage people to take the census survey online or by phone.
The campaign to participate electronically was launched because people may hesitate to answer the door during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To keep a census enumerator knocking on your door, complete the census online at 2020census.gov, fill out and return the form in the mail, or call 844-330-2020.
Spanish speakers can call 844-468-2020.
Census workers will be visiting homes beginning Aug. 11.
“Let’s all be civic-minded and do our part because being counted in the census helps tax dollars come back to our community in the form of public services,” said Karen Sheek, co-chair of the Montezuma County Complete Count Survey.
Community members also can be counted at a census booth at the county fair from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The census is conducted once a decade to gather population data across the United States. The numbers collected dictate funding allocations and districting for congressional representation.
Specifically, census data determine funding allocations for services such as affordable housing programs, school lunch programs, Medicaid, roads, parks and trails, firefighters, economic development and senior supports.
The results also will inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, public transportation, housing assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
According to the state of Colorado, about $880 billion in federal funding is allocated nationwide based on census counts. In Colorado, this comes out to about $13 billion annually or an estimated $2,300 per person.
Every census response calculates to direct funding for the county, Sheek said, “so taking 10 minutes is a great investment in your community.”
As of July 30, Montezuma County’s 66.1% self-response rate was the highest in Southwest Colorado.
Colorado’s overall response rate is 66.1%.
Other response rates are: La Plata County, 56.6%; Dolores County, 40.8%; Archuleta County, 39.3%; San Miguel, 31.1%; and San Juan County, 26%.
The Ute Mountain Tribe has a response rate of 27%; the Southern Utes, 46.8%; and the Navajo Nation, 13.4%
For cities, Cortez leads the way with 67.6% response rate.
Following up Cortez are Ophir at 66.2%, Durango at 63.1%, Dove Creek at 55.1%, Mancos at 53.1%, Dolores at 48.5%, Pagosa Springs at 36.3, Silverton at 33.8%, Rico at 30.2% and Telluride at 25.8%.
“It’s not too late to fill out the census online or by phone,” said Doug Roth, co-chair of Montezuma County Complete County Committee. “That way, a census worker will not come to your house and knock on your door.”
The more people counted locally, the more federal tax dollars you paid are returned to support your local community, he said.
jmimiaga @the-journal.com
