The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced resumption of data-collection operations, stating in a press release that it will “Continue to monitor the impacts COVID-19 has on 2020 Census operations and follow guidance of federal, state and local health authorities to ensure the safety our staff and the public.”
To this end, the Census Bureau is collaborating with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) and Santa Barbara County Complete Count Committee on a first-of-its-kind outreach event called Census Caravan(a).
The interactive car caravan will take place 1-3 p.m. June 23. The motorcade will be driving by Housing Authority properties and around Santa Barbara Census tracks on the Westside, Eastside and downtown that are seeing a low Census response rate in comparison with the rest of the city.
The car procession will also be driving by the offices of Assembly Member Monique Limon, and county Supervisors Gregg Hart and Das Williams for community shout-outs promoting Census participation. Residents are urged to greet parade participants from their doorway, yard, window or balcony; social distancing practices will be strictly followed.
Caravan(a) is being coordinated by HACSB staff members Leticia Zuniga and Primitiva Hernandez. “We will be joined by our local Census representatives Joni Maiden and Ana Maria Angulo,” Zuniga said. “We ask and highly encourage all residents at these properties to come out and cheer us on with posters, horns, etc. “We will have fun giveaways for residents who come out and support us.
“Additionally, we encourage people to join our Facebook Live Stream of the event and like, comment, share with your friends/community. https://www.facebook.com/Housing-Authority-of-the-City-of-Santa-Barbara-189096791116315/.
“Being the only agency conducting a Census Caravan(a) in the city of Santa Barbara, we hope this event will bring much awareness and encouragement to our residents to fill out their Census.”
According to the U.S. Census website: “A census aims to count the entire population of a country, and at the location where each person usually lives. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.
“Federal funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you help your community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.”
For more information, contact Primitiva Hernandez, phernandez@hacsb.org or call 805-284-7067.