Census Count Facing a Challenge From Foreclosures

Posted on October 26, 2009
Filed Under foreclosure | 1 Comment

Census count poised for the big operation is facing a challenge from foreclosures. It is going to be more difficult and costly to obtain accurate statistics in 2010 as the foreclosure victims have shifted to live with families, cars or shelters. Many have been rendered homeless. This fact has been admitted by Director Robert Groves of the Census Bureau.

He said some of the questionnaires would be mailed in 2010 but in all probability these will reach empty homes in those areas that have been worst hit by the foreclosure crisis. It means the workers of his department will have knock on each door to find out if the persons enlisted are living in these houses. It meant more expenses. Speaking to reporters at Los Angeles Groves said, “One absolutely unambiguous impact of the foreclosures is there’s going to be more people knocking on doors. It’s going to be more expensive to do that.”

Unemployment has affected over 13% of the homeowners in America having mortgages to lag behind their dues. This is leading to foreclosures according to a recent report by Mortgage Bankers Association. The worst trouble spots are Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada.

Some experts are of the opinion that next year there will be a fresh wave of foreclosures after many lenders who had kept the process on hold will have no other alternative but to proceed with it.

Groves wants the workers of his census department to concentrate on contacting those families that are living with friends and relations to tide over this critical period. He said that many are convinced that the housing situation will soon improve. But nevertheless wherever they are there is the urgent need to count them.

He also stated that the workers are giving extra attention to the counting of those who have become recently homeless – like the families that had been considered middle class just a short while ago. Recession has pushed them down the ladder.

The Census Bureau is hopeful that the new method of mailing questionnaires that were shorter and dispatching bilingual forms in the areas dominated by the Latinos would address these problems. To locate these areas the bureau has increased the strength of its staff. But Groves added that it still unclear whether it will be successful to obtain the 67% response that had been noted in 2000. He said, “I think it is a harder job for us this census.”

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