In an effort to push participation in this year’s U.S. Census, Haverhill’s Mount Washington Alliance, Community Action and Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will pay residents to count the number of people in their household.
Beginning today through June 30, and while money lasts, each city household may submit a form counting every member and be given a $5 gift card for each person counted. Participating households will also be entered in a raffle for two additional $50 gift cards.
Money for the #HaverhillCounts 2020 US Census Program comes from the Chamber and the secretary of state’s Census Division’s Complete Count Grant Program. An entry form, which also includes complete instructions for completing the census online or by telephone or mail-in form, may be downloaded here.
Community Action’s Christine Soundara said Mount Washington and the lower Acre neighborhoods are the most difficult to count areas, but the incentive program is open to anyone who lives in Haverhill.
Participants will verify by submitting the 2020 Census Completion Form and by either attaching the confirmation email, a screenshot of the confirmation email or completion page showing all household members counted or taking or attaching two photographs—one of the completed mail-in form and the other of the person mailing the Census Form at the Post Office.
Organizers says it is important to count every person since distribution of $800 billion in federal funds is based on the number of people in each state. They estimate that, in Massachusetts alone, the amount is more than $24 billion a year for the next 10 years for schools, healthcare, jobs, housing, roads and more.