The original item was published from 10/21/2020 8:38:03 AM to 10/21/2020 8:38:03 AM.

News Flash

City News

Posted on: February 1, 2020

[ARCHIVED] 2020 Census

2020 Census: Pets don't count but you do! (cat, dogs, goldfish, bird)

Filling out the census ensures North Richland Hills gets its fair share of federal funding for healthcare, public schools, job training, emergency services and more during the next 10 years. It also helps Texas receive accurate representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Don’t let our city or state be underrepresented!

Census Takers Visiting Households that haven’t Responded to 2020 Census Yet

Still need to complete your 2020 Census? Do it today at my2020census.gov or 1-844-330-2020 to avoid a visit from a census taker. Starting in July, census takers will visit homes that haven’t yet responded to the 2020 Census. Census workers will wear masks and follow social distancing protocols. If no one is home when a census taker visits, they will leave a notice about how to respond online, by phone or by mail.

If someone visits your home to collect information for the 2020 Census, check to make sure they have a ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo. A census taker is not required to have a solicitors permit from the city. If you have questions about their identity, call the Dallas Regional Census Center at 972-510-1800. Visit the Census Bureau website for more information about census takers.

Census workers will occasionally follow up with households over the phone to ask questions about your responses to the 2020 Census. A census caller will only review responses that you provided on your census form. They will not ask for financial information or Social Security numbers. If you receive a call and are asked for such information, do not provide it and report the call to the Census Bureau. To report suspected fraud or, if you think you received a call from the Census Bureau but want to confirm the legitimacy of it, call 844-809-7717 to speak with a Census Bureau representative

Completing Your Census Form

You have the option of responding to the 2020 Census by mail, phone or online, which will make the process even easier. For residents who don’t have internet access, the NRH Library at 9015 Grand Ave. has internet computers available for public use at no charge.

The census takes just 10 minutes to complete. It will ask you how many people live with you and if you own or rent your house. It will also ask your name, sex, age, birthday, ethnicity and race. The information you provide will remain confidential. The Census Bureau is required by federal law to protect your information. They can only use your information for statistical purposes.

Everyone has the right to participate. Despite what you may have heard, the census will not ask about your or your family’s citizenship or immigration status. You don’t have to be a citizen; the census counts everyone living in the United States.

Who to Count

When you are filling out the census for your home, you should count everyone who is living there as of April 1, 2020. Your pets and fur-babies don’t count, but everyone else does!

This includes any friends or family members who are living and sleeping there most of the time. If someone is staying in your home on April 1, and has no usual home elsewhere, you should count them in your response to the 2020 Census. Please also be sure to count roommates, young children, newborns, and anyone who is renting a space in your home. These people are often missed in the census. This means they can miss out on resources for themselves and their communities over the next 10 years.

Find more information about who to count at 2020census.gov/en/who-to-count.

Avoiding Scams

Starting in May 2020, census takers will begin visiting homes that haven’t responded to the census to ensure everyone is counted. The best way to avoid a follow-up visit from a census taker is to fill out the 2020 Census questionnaire as soon as you receive an invitation to participate.

If someone visits your home to collect information for the 2020 Census, you can check to make sure that they have a government issued ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. If you still have questions about their identity, contact the Dallas Regional Census Center at 972-510-1800 to speak with a Census Bureau representative. Census workers are not required to have a solicitors permit from the city.

During the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask for:

your Social Security number;
money or donations;
bank or credit card account numbers;
your mother’s maiden name;
anything on behalf of a political party.

If someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau contacts you via email, phone or in person and asks you for one of these things, it’s a scam, and you should not cooperate. For more information visit 2020census.gov/en/avoiding-fraud.

Census Jobs

The Census Bureau is currently hiring temporary workers in North Texas to help conduct the 2020 Census. Positions include census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff and supervisory staff. To be eligible you must be at least 18 years old, have a social security number and be a U.S. citizen. Candidates must complete an online job application. Anyone who is interested can learn more and apply at 2020census.gov/en/jobs.