The U.S. Census Bureau is pushing public education and community outreach in an attempt to get an accurate 2020 count in Illinois.
They’re targeting so-called “hard to count” populations. Marilyn Sanders, a regional director for the bureau, said that includes areas with high concentrations of elderly people, immigrant communities and households that speak a language other than English.
But there are other populations more specific to the Peoria area: Households with a high concentration of children under age 5 tend to be hard to count, as do households run by a single parent.
Sanders said areas with a high concentration of men — and particularly African American men — ages 18 to 25 can be hard to reach. Multi-unit buildings can also pose a challenge.Rural communities are also considered “hard to reach,” because internet access is low. Sanders added some addresses are not deliverable.
For example, Census takers will hand-deliver questionnaires toselect households in southern Peoria County near Kingston Mines.
Sanders said it’s important to help people understand what’s at stake if they don’t participate.
“More schools being built, more libraries, road construction — these are all central messages that we want to make certain, in those communities, they understand,” she said.
Statewide, Illinois could stand to lose millions of dollars in federal funding and up to two congressional seats.
Invitations to participate in the 2020 Census will be sent out in March. Come May, Census takers will go door-to-door in communities with low response rates.
The bureau is accepting applications now for those interested in assisting in the 2020 count.
Sanders said they’re looking to recruit about 1,000 people in Peoria County and another 600 Tazewell County. But not everyone will end up with a job.
“We want to talk in terms of recruiting numbers because our hiring numbers are really based on how well we get the word out and what our response rates are,” she said.
Sanders said the pay rate for Census employees in Tazewell County is $21 an hour. In Peoria County, it ranges from $21 to $23.50 an hour.
The Census Bureau is recruiting through March 1. For more information or to apply, click here.
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