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As U.S. Census count moves into final weeks, Flint ramps up outreach campaign

steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio

In Flint, there’s a push to get as many city residents as possible counted in this year’s U.S. Census.

Anthony Turner is coordinating the city’s census campaign. He says roughly 80% of city residents have responded to the census. 

But Turner admits it will be challenging to get those who haven’t yet responded to do so.

“These folks that we're talking about have a severe distrust of the government...a lot of them don’t want to be found,” says Turner.

Turner says people under 30 years of age, senior citizens, and undocumented residents are among those in Flint who’ve proven difficult to reach. 

The city has more than two dozen outreach events scheduled between now and the end of the month. City leaders stress the census helps determine federal funding for schools and social services.  

There’s a federal court hearing this week that may determine whether the official Census count will end this month or have the deadline re-instated to October.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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