Thursday, July 30, 2020 will mark the first day that U.S. Census workers will begin visiting homes in the Commonwealth to do a door-to-door count of all residents. Residents who have already returned their census online, by mail, or over the phone will not be visited.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Western Massachusetts Team is hosting a series of Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) Events throughout the City this week to answer questions and help residents respond to the 2020 Census. Mayor Sarno, Election Commissioner Oyola and Secretary of State Galvin will join with the MQA event at Rebecca Johnson School to stress the importance of responding to the 2020 Census so our communities can receive the appropriate federal resources our neighborhoods need.
Mayor Sarno states, “I cannot stress enough how important it is for all of us to fill out our 2020 Census. There is so much at stake for our communities across the Commonwealth from vital CDBG funds to our representation in government. I want to thank Secretary Galvin and his team for their leadership efforts to get the message out on how important it is for everyone to return their 2020 Census so our neighborhoods can get their fair share of federal resources and our Commonwealth can maintain our representation in Congress. I want to also acknowledge and thank our own City of Springfield Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola and her team for their unyielding outreach efforts of making sure our Springfield is accounted for.”
Election Commissioner Oyola stated, “Every Census there are the usual questions residents have. This year with the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, we have seen an added level of difficulty with our outreach efforts. However, we have remained strong and we have adapted. In collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Western Massachusetts Team, Secretary Galvin’s Office and our community partners, we have utilized social media networks, Mobile Questionnaire Assistance events and soon will be returning to our door-to-door outreach efforts to increase self-response rates.”
Census workers who visit homes will be wearing official U.S. Census Bureau identification, so that they can be identified. Workers will also be wearing masks, to protect themselves and residents with whom they interact with.
Residents can avoid the need for a visit from the U.S. Census Bureau by returning their census online at www.my2020census.gov or over the phone at 1-844-330-2020.
Also attending the 2020 Census outreach event was Michelle Brown from Congressman Richard Neal's Office and Laura Medrano, Western Massachusetts Census Bureau Supervisory Partnership Specialist.
