CENSUS 2020

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

2020 Census Essay Contest

Are you a middle school or high school age student? Share your story with the us through the 2020 Census Essay Contest.


Criteria:

You must be a middle school or high school student who lives in or attends any school in Half Moon Bay.


WHAT: Write an essay in English or Spanish with a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of three pages, and attach an optional art piece explaining why you think counting every member of your family matters to gain an accurate picture of the people who live in this city.


WHY: Every 10 years the U.S. Constitution requires that every person in the country be counted in order to determine how billions of federal dollars get spent for public services and how political power is distributed. The census is also like a huge mirror that tells us who we are as a society and who we are becoming. But there is a big risk that some people-especially the youngest children-will go uncounted. Your writing and art will help spotlight why each person is so important to ensure a complete and accurate count of this city.


HOW: Send your submission (.doc, .jpg, .pdf, or link) to

[email protected]. Entries must be submitted by March 12, 2020. A judging panel of will review all entries. Winners will be announced during Census Night Out on April 1, 2020 at the HMB Library.


AWARDS!

1st place and 2nd place winners will be selected (from middle schools and high schools). There will be 2 first place winners, 2 second place winners, and 2 third place winners in total. Each first place winner will receive a scholarship of $300; each second place winner will receive a scholarship of $200, each third place winner will receive &100.


Suggested prompts:

• Who is your family?

• What is different about your family?

• How would you describe your family to a total stranger?

• Who in your family are you closest to and why?

• If you do not live with blood relatives, who do you consider your family?

• If you had to leave your family for some reason, who would you miss most in your family?


Save the Date! Census Night Out, April 1, 2020

The 2020 Census is right around the corner, and to kick it off, the City of Half Moon Bay is hosting Census Nigh Out!


Join us on Wednesday, April 1 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at the Half Moon Bay Library to learn more about the Census (there will speakers and informational tables) and fill out the Census (we’ll have laptops available and staff on hand to help). Bring you family, friends, neighbors, casual acquaintances, or somebody you just met to share a meal and talk about the Census and why it’s so important to be counted. Library staff will also provide children’s activities. We look forward to seeing you all there!


WHAT IS THE CENSUS?

Every 10 years, the federal government is required to count everyone living in the United States, citizens and non-citizens alike, through a national census. The next census will take place on April 1, 2020. The information collected from the census is used to make sure everyone is equally represented in our political system and that government resources are allocated fairly. It is also used to make important decisions about community programs and services, like where to build homes and parks, establish public transit routes, build new roads, and offer language access services.

Census Image

1. Equal Representation

2. Funding for Critical Programs and Service

3. Data to Improve our Community

4. Challenges and Potential Negative Outcomes

HOW THE 2020 CENSUS WILL INVITE EVERYONE TO RESPOND

• Every household will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone

• 95% of households will receive their invitation in the mail

• If you use a PO Box to receive mail, a census taker will drop off your invitation

• Less than 1% of households will be counted in person by a census taker, instead of being invited to respond on their own

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE MAIL

US Mailbox
  • Most areas of the country are likely to respond online, so most households will receive a letter asking you to go online to complete the census questionnaire
  • Areas that are less likely to respond online will receive a paper questionnaire along with their invitation. The invitation will also include information about how to respond online or by phone

HOW WILL THE HOMELESS BE COUNTED

Woman serving Soup to a homeless woman
  • The Census Bureau uses an event called T-Night to count homeless residents, counting people wherever they live – or where they are staying if they don’t have a permanent place to live – on Census Day. They count people at shelters, soup kitchens, and regularly scheduled mobile food vans. They look for an county people staying outside in places such as encampments under bridges or in parking lots. This effort is called “Service-Based Enumeration” and will occur on March, 27, 30, and 31, 2020.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREPARE?

  • The City of Half Moon Bay will be working closely with the County of San Mateo and partnering with local organizations that can serve as trusted messengers
  • Hosting outreach events

- Tabling at other events

- Reaching out to Hard-to-Count populations

- Hosting homeless-specific outreach events


HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. Educate others about Census 2020

2. Share information about the census on social media

3. Apply for a census job or share job opportunities

4. Most importantly, you can help by making sure completely fill out your census form!