Houstonians Put a Little “Faith” in the Census

This weekend thousands of Houstonians will hear a common message at their places of worship regardless of their religious beliefs – Answer the Census.   March 5 through 7 will be observed as Census Sabbath weekend, a time in which faith-based institutions will dedicate sermons, provide spiritual guidance and teachings focused on a ‘higher calling’ to make every person count.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Pastor Rudy Rasmus and 25 other spiritual leaders joined Mayor Parker earlier this week to sign a Census Sabbath pledge committing their support to help secure a complete count. A complete count in Houston will result in additional federal funding to help expand community centers, improve transportation, increase health care options and meet the needs of Houston’s growing population.

Census forms arrive in the mail in less than 10 days. For more information about Census Sabbath and other local Census efforts, visitwww.HoustonCounts.org.  

WHEN: March 5 through 7

WHO:  Religious leaders and organizations available for interview and visuals include:

Lakewood Church, Houston Counts and Census Bureau staff

St. John’s Downtown, Pastor Rudy Rasmus

Brentwood Baptist Church, Reverend Al Sharpton and Reverend Clay Pickens

St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Father Jose Rubio

St. Paul’s United Methodist, Father Jim Bankston

*Please visit websites for locations and service times

 VISUALS:            

· Spiritual leaders preaching the Census message

· Congregants gathered around Census information booths

· Special Census messages in church bulletins/newsletters

FAST FACTS:       

 ·   Individuals are more likely to answer and mail their Census forms if they’re advised to do so by a trusted source such as a clergy leader.

·      Census forms will arrive in mailboxes starting March 15.

·      All Census forms should be mailed back to the U.S. Census Bureau by April 1, 2010.

·      Houston’s mail-in response rate in the 2000 Census was 61 percent, three points below the national average of 64.

·      The City loses an estimated $1,700 per person per year for everyone not counted.