'A serious matter': Aurora steps up census push in hard-to-count areas
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin has issued an urgent call for census outreach volunteers to reach hard-to-count neighborhoods and boost participation in the once-in-a-decade population survey.
The U.S. Census Bureau has announced counting efforts will end a month early, raising fears of an incomplete tally and leaving advocates already hampered by the pandemic scrambling to reach households by the new Sept. 30 federal deadline.
Immigrant families, seniors and people who are homeless are among historically undercounted populations.
"We have just 40 days to complete the 2020 census, and this is a serious matter," Irvin said.
Census data will determine federal funding for cities over the next decade. Each person missed in the census could cost Illinois $1,800 per year in federal dollars for schools, roads and social services. Political representation also is at stake.
"We know how critically important a census is to our community and how vital it is we have a complete count," Irvin said.
Census organizers confront lack of internet access in hard-to-count areas, government mistrust and lingering fears in immigrant communities.
"It's safe, confidential, and it benefits the city of Aurora, so I just implore everyone to respond," said College of DuPage President Brian Caputo, chairman of Aurora's complete count committee.
Irvin, with support from aldermen and members of the count committee, will host two "Community Census Days" to focus outreach efforts on 25 undercounted neighborhoods.
Illinois' response rate - 69% - currently ranks No. 7 in the country, according to the federal bureau. Nearly 72% of Aurora households have responded.
"That's good. It's not good enough. That's not nearly good enough," Irvin said.
The city has 51 census tracts. The tract with the highest response rate is Ward 8's Oakhurst subdivision, with almost 90% of households responding on their own.
Conversely, some neighborhoods in Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 have self-response rates ranging from just 45.5% to 58.5%. A dozen census tracts have self-response rates below 60%.
"That's where we need to put our efforts for the next 40 days," Irvin said.
Volunteers will fan out to 25 neighborhoods to bring reminders in both English and Spanish, starting Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Another round of outreach will begin 2 p.m. Sept. 25. Caputo will join volunteers on that date.
"We are moving beyond the online reminders and the postcards reminders to making the personal connection needed to bring home the point that we need a complete count," Irvin said.
Volunteers can register for the Community Census Days at Aurora-il.org/Service and select their preferred ward and neighborhood. All volunteers will receive badges and protective gear and adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Census takers are following up in-person with households that have not yet completed forms. Aurora also has contracted census workers who have been working throughout the summer to increase response rates.