2020-04-02 Invitation Not Needed to Participate in the Census -- press release (2)

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Roy Takemoto Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 April 3, 2020 NEWS RELEASE Invitation Not Needed to Participate in Census Hawaii County residents are encouraged to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census questionnaire even if they haven’t received a written invitation. The U.S. Census Bureau does not send invitations to a P.O. Box in Hawai‘i. For those residents, invitations were to be hand-delivered to physical addresses in a process called Update Leave; however, that process is on hold until April 30to protect the health and safety of the community and Census employees during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. You can respond to the Census even if you haven’t received your invitation or if you’ve lost your invitation. Go to https://my2020census.gov/ and once you’ve started the questionnaire, follow the link that says, “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.” You can also fill out your questionnaire over the phone by calling 1-844-330-2020 toll-free or wait for a pre-stamped paper form. From the beginning of May through July, Census takers will go door-to-door to gather responses from households that have not yet responded. Mayor Harry Kim issued a Proclamation to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to raise awareness and educate the community about the importance of the U.S. Census and to achieve a complete and accurate count in Hawaii County. That proclamation declared April 1, 2020, as Census Day. Every 10 years, the Federal government conducts a Census, which is the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country. These funds support the planning of various needs and initiatives, including public schools, student loans, school meals, special education, Medicaid & Medicare, health care centers, food assistance programs, public housing, first responders, roads, social services, and much more! Every 1% of the population that’s undercounted in Hawai‘i represents a potential loss of $37 million a year in federal funding, which equates to a loss of $370 million over 10 years. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.