WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The U.S. Census Bureau will begin an in-person count of people living in group quarters as well as those who are homeless, according to press release.

According to officials with the U.S. Census Bureau, 61.8% of households in the United States completed their self-responses as of June 29, 2020.

Additionally, 56.6% of households in Texas and 58.8% of households in Wichita Falls had completed the self-response as of June 29.

Group Quarters Enumeration is the U.S. Census Bureau’s special set of operations for counting people who live or stay in the estimated 250,000 group quarters facilities, such as correctional facilities for adults, university student housing, nursing and skilled nursing facilities, group homes, residential treatment centers, and military barracks.

The Census Bureau works directly with group quarters administrators in responding to the 2020 Census on behalf of residents to ensure a complete and accurate census count.

The 2020 Census offers several response options for people living in group living arrangements, including electronic response options where an administrator fills in data for each person who stayed at the facility on April 1, 2020.

Group quarter administrators can also mail a paper listing of census response data for each person being served or staying at their respective facility to their respective area census office or have a census taker pick up the paper listing or drop off paper questionnaires to the facility.

The Census Bureau strongly encourages group quarters facilities to utilize these available options that do not involve in-person contact.

About 35 percent of group quarter administrators have responded to the 2020 Census via eResponse or paper listings. 

As part of the Group Quarters Operation, Census Bureau workers will also count people experiencing homelessness between September 22 and September 24. During a process called Service-Based Enumeration, specially trained census takers visit shelters, soup kitchens, mobile food vans and outdoor locations, such as under bridges and overpasses.  

The Census Bureau continues to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on 2020 Census operations and follow guidance of federal, state and local health authorities to ensure the safety of our staff and the public.

Please find the full press release from the Census Bureau below:

For more information about the 2020 Census and the Group Quarters Operation, visit 2020census.gov.