On Saturday, Sept. 26, Sen. Shelley Mayer hosted three events—in Port Chester, New Rochelle and Yonkers—to do Census outreach. Mayer and her
Youth Advisory Council partnered with the Census Bureau and local Complete Count committees to help residents get counted on the spot.
The three locations target Hard to Count communities in Westchester before the Oct. 31 deadline to be counted. Completing the census is confidential,
and information will not be shared with other agencies.
“Census data determines funding for government programs that lift up our communities including for schools, roads, healthcare, housing, and so much more,” Mayer said. “I am so proud that my Youth Advisory Council spearheaded and staffed this event in the multiple communities at greatest risk of undercount.
With the deadline only one month away, I am glad I was able to coordinate with local Complete Count Committees and the Census Bureau to get more residents counted in Hard to Count communities in Port Chester, New Rochelle, and Yonkers.” Mayer’s office had tables at the Purdy Avenue Port Chester Housing Authority, Feeney Park in New Rochelle, and in front of the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers.
“There were unique challenges these communities faced this year to ensure residents were counted in the Census including allaying fears about confidentiality
of information and not being able to do traditional, door-to-door outreach due to the threat of COVID-19,” Mayer said. “I am grateful to all of our partners for
the Census outreach events, and we will continue to promote until the very last day of the deadline.”
There are more than 50 government programs that rely on Census data for fund disbursement. Some of the largest government programs that allocate
federal funding to states based on Census data include:
• Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Medicare Supplemental Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B)
• Federal Pell Grant Program
• Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.
This past week, a federal judge ruled that the Census needed more time to get an accurate count, and the original deadline of Oc. 31, 2020 would stay in
place. Everyone must be counted in the Census every 10 years regardless of immigration status or age. Filling out the Census is safe and secure, and information provided will not be shared with immigration enforcement, law enforcement agencies or used to determine eligibility for benefits.
Visit my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to be counted.
(Submitted)
