On September 15, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Regional Partnership Specialist informed the County of San Luis Obispo that field operations would cease along the Central Coast on Friday, September 18. This cessation comes 12 days before the recently shortened deadline to respond to the 2020 U.S. Census by September 30. It is critical that County residents self-respond to the 2020 Census as soon as possible.
Residents can complete the Census in less than 10 minutes online at my2020census.gov or by calling 844-330-2020. The last day to complete the Census is September 30.
Through September 18, San Luis Obispo County residents who have not responded to the Census may see official census takers from the U.S. Census Bureau at their doors. Census takers began follow-up work in SLO County in August, going door-to-door to households that had not yet responded to the Census. Residents who receive a visit from census takers are encouraged to complete their interviews while staying six feet away from census takers and practicing the CDC’s other recommended COVID-19 precautions as much as possible.
Participation in the Census helps ensure fair and equitable representation in government, as well as funding to provide services to residents, including health and human services, transportation projects, schools and emergency services such as the County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Census data can also help boost the local economy, as companies use the information to decide where to open new locations.
Residents who have questions about the Census or would like assistance with responding to the Census may call the County’s Census Questionnaire phone line at 805-781-5011. Assistance in English and Spanish is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.