Foreclosures pose challenge, cost to census count

By AMY TAXIN
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 - 10:20 am

LOS ANGELES -- The Census Bureau director says foreclosures will make it tougher and more expensive for census workers to get an accurate count of families next year.

Director Robert Groves said Tuesday in Los Angeles that he expects some questionnaires will land at empty homes in areas hard hit by the housing crisis.

That means workers will need to make more door-to-door visits, which costs more money.

Groves also says his agency will need to focus on reaching out to people who are newly homeless and to families who have doubled up with relatives until they can get back on their feet.

Groves said the Census Bureau will address the problem by mailing replacement forms, using a shorter questionnaire and sending bilingual forms to some areas.

http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/2250651.html