Monthly Planner
April 2020
City of Houston Planning & Development Department
Take the Census from the Safety of your Own Home
Now is the time to make Houston count! Practice social distancing and self-respond to the 2020 Census survey online at my2020census.gov. Or, you can simply call 1-844-330-2020 to be included in the census survey today.
The Census is safe and your responses are confidential. You will not be asked to provide your citizenship status, banking information, or social security number.
Being counted in the 2020 Census can even help secure funding and resources for public health concerns such as coronavirus!
The importance of an accurate count cannot be overstated. It means significant money to our community. Over the next ten years, more than $5 billion in federal funding will be provided to state and local governments based on population.
Where you were living on April 1, 2020 is one of the most important questions you will answer on the Census.
Your response to the census invitation will impact Houston for the next decade, including congressional representation and federally funded programs that assist Houstonians with medical care, food, pre-school and after school programs, disaster recovery, affordable housing, road improvements, and more. Say #YesToCensus2020!
The Planning Department is the city’s lead coordinator in the decennial census for Houston.
A Bright Spot in My Day
Interesting Times: There is an old Chinese proverb that Dr. Stephen Klineberg from The Kinder Institute at Rice University often quotes: May you live in interesting times.
For better or worse, we are living in such times.
Once again, we are facing challenges to our daily lives, and—once again—I am heartened by the positive way Houstonians are responding to these challenges. This is an amazing city, and the phrase Houston Strong doesn’t do it justice.
Throughout this crisis, Mayor Sylvester Turner has prioritized the city’s commitment to providing excellent public service and the entire P&D team has stepped up to the plate. We are continuing to fulfill our responsibilities such as reviewing applications, communicating with neighborhood groups, conducting committee meetings and updating new subdivision addresses. The only difference is that now most of our teams are working remotely from locations across Houston. Phone calls, texts, virtual meetings and our team’s unwavering commitment to excellence are making all of this possible and efficient.
We are also are working diligently to develop a process that will allow us to hold virtual commission meetings. Our goal is to create a format that enables us to present information to the commission while giving applicants and the public appropriate access. Stay tuned to our commission web pages for additional information about meeting dates and how you can participate.
Stay safe, wash your hands and keep believing in Houston.
Margaret Wallace Brown, Director
Planning & Development Department
