Santa Maria continues to raise 2020 Census rates despite delays due to COVID-19

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - With about 4 in 10 households having yet to respond to the 2020 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau announced it is on track to conduct multiple follow-up activities aimed at ensuring a complete and accurate count.

Visits to neighborhoods by enumerators in Santa Maria have been pushed back to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The results so far is we are at 61.2% response rate in Santa Maria compared to 66% in the county and nearly 63% across the states," said Mark van de Kamp with the City of Santa Maria.

No doubt the COVID-19 pandemic is playing a part in delays for the census count process.

"That’s who’s going to be making the follow up phone calls and visits into the neighborhoods as well as the specialized outreach for the homelessness counts," said van de Kamp.

That count for the homeless is delayed to September.

But other efforts are about to gear up, and personal visits from the census are coming to those who haven't responded yet.

City and county leaders say if you complete your Census right now you can avoid an in person visit from the us census bureau.

"It’s very important to get everyone in our county counted because funding for programs and your voice in congressional representation is determined based on the data collected in the Census," said Joni Maiden with the County of Santa Barbara.

When filling out your Census, be sure to include everyone who lives in your household.

"Whether they’re related to you or not if they’re in a multi family home if they live with you most of the time you can’t everyone that lives in your house," said Maiden.

The U.S. Census Bureau will send postcards to households between July 22 and July 28 that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.

The deadline to finish the Census is October 31st.