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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
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Jean Heyer, Hennepin County Communications & Engagement Services, 612-701-3874
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Casper Hill, City of Minneapolis Media Relations, 612-673-2342
Press conference Monday morning in Minneapolis
Community members and local leaders from Minneapolis, Hennepin County and the State of Minnesota discuss their concerns about making sure everyone is counted by the September 30 census deadline.
Historically, there are several communities at risk for being undercounted in the census. That risk is compounded this year by unprecedented factors including a global pandemic and an announcement that the extended count period would be shortened by a full month. With 30 days remaining for Hennepin County residents to be counted, census organizers are calling community members to action to ensure a complete count.
Minnesota’s low non-response follow up (NRFU) rate is estimated to be only 12.1% compared to other states where it is as high as 33%. During NRFU, census takers make in-person visits to collect information from households that have not completed the census on their own.
Every year, Minnesota receives $15.5 billion from the federal government. An undercount would reduce the funding our state receives. And, it could result in the loss of a congressional seat.
Minnesota previously had been first in the country during the self-response phase but has now fallen to 12th place in total response with the Bureaus enumeration efforts.
When
Monday, August 31 – 11a.m.
- Comm. Irene Fernando – Chair of Hennepin County Complete Count Census Committee
- City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins – Chair of Minneapolis Complete Count Census Committee
- Susan Brower – Minnesota State Demographer
- XP Lee - Minnesota Council on Foundations/MN Census Mobilization Partnership
- Monica Hurtado – community member
- Abdirizak Bihi – community member
Where
- Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center | Pillsbury United Communities
- 420 15th Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454
Background
There are a number of indicators that U.S. Census Bureau’s field operation in Hennepin County may be ending after just a few weeks. It was supposed to occur through September 30. We are hearing about a number of non-response households that have not received a single visit from a census taker. We have also heard first-hand accounts from census numerators frustrated with bad data for apartment units, which makes it impossible to know if households have or have not completed the census.
Hennepin County is the largest county in Minnesota and home to a third of the state’s BIPOC communities. An undercount in our state could result in the loss of a congressional seat. Billions of federal dollars that would benefit our community are also on the line. We urge everyone to be counted so that we achieve a fully inclusive and accurate 2020 census in Minnesota.
#WeCountMN
How to complete the census
For more information
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.
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