U.S. Census Bureau Announces the Start of First Major Field Operation for 2020 Census

Until Oct 18, Census Bureau employees (listers) will be walking through neighborhoods across the country checking addresses not verified using BARCA software. The Census Bureau created new software called the Block Assessment, Research and Classification Application (BARCA). It compares satellite images of the United States over time, allowing Census Bureau employees to spot new housing developments, changes in existing homes and other housing units that did not previously exist. Reviewers also use BARCA to compare the number of housing units in current imagery with the number of addresses on file for each block.

Census employees will knock on doors and ask a few simple questions to verify the address and any additional living quarters on the property for inclusion in the census.

An official 2020 Census employee should have (photo below)  

1) A government badge with photo

2) A Census bag

3) A laptop or ipad with the Census logo on the device

4) Residents may also ask them for a picture ID from another source to confirm their identity.

A “no soliciting” sign will not stop a Census employee from knocking on your door. Longmont’s municipal code regarding “no soliciting” applies to those that are selling items or services, of which the Census employees are not doing. For further specifics please see City of Longmont Municipal Code 6.76.010 and 6.76.020.

The 2020 Census officially starts counting people in January 2020 in remote Toksook Bay, Alaska. Following the count of people in remote Alaska, most households in the country will start receiving invitations to respond online, by phone or by mail in March 2020.

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census of the population be conducted once every 10 years. Census data is used to determine the number of seats each state holds in Congress and how more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed back to states and local communities every year for services and infrastructure, including health care, jobs, schools, roads and businesses. 

Here is a video that explains address canvassing:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=you+tube+census+address+canvassing&&view=detail&mid=B8E2BA50E310E04932D2B8E2BA50E310E04932D2&&FORM=VRDGAR

Here is a sample copy of the 2020 Census questionnaire. Census staff will have support for people to answer in English + 12 languages and Braille:
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/technical-documentation/questionnaires-and-instructions/questionnaires/2020-informational-questionnaire.pdf