The 2020 Census is happening now. It has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone, or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. Taking time to respond to the 2020 Census now means a census taker will not need to visit your home later. Census takers will visit households that do not respond to the 2020 Census.

On March 15, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau announced some adjustments to 2020 Census operations to protect the health and safety of the public and its staff, while fulfilling its statutory requirements for delivery of its counts on schedule. The press release can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website.

The U.S. Census Bureau will closely follow guidance from public health authorities when conducting this operation, as they do when conducting all field operations. If the U.S. Census Bureau needs to delay or discontinue nonresponse follow-up visits in a community, they will adapt their operation to ensure a complete and accurate count.

Currently, the planned completion date for data collection for the 2020 Census is July 31, 2020, but that date may be adjusted as the situation evolves.

As good neighbors and community members, we want everyone to be counted in the Census. Many of us likely have friends, family, coworkers, and others in our communities who don’t know about the importance of the 2020 Census. Help us spread awareness in your community. Text PACOUNTS to 898211 on your mobile phone to receive text message updates about the 2020 Census in either English or Spanish. Standard data rates may apply.

Census 2020 information and resources, several specific to Pennsylvania, may be found on the LAMPa website. Check out this new 2020 Census video produced by the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition. An additional informative resource, highlighting the benefits of the census is this Census bulletin insert put together by the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. It may also be accessed on the LAMPa web site.