According to Bureau data nationwide, more than 7.7  million people, or approximately 3 percent of the population, lived in  group quarter facilities during the 2000 Census. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons,  counting the group quarters population can be difficult. Operational Changes Made for 2010 Position the Bureau to More Accurately Classify and Identify Group Quarters

The Bureau developed and tested new procedures to address the  difficulties it had in identifying and counting this population during the  2000 Census. For example, the Bureau moved from manual to GPS- generated map spots, which should reduce the chance of human error and  of group quarters populations being counted in the wrong jurisdiction;  moved from a telephone interview to a field verification approach, which  should increase accuracy; and combined the housing unit and group  quarters address lists into a single address list, which should reduce the  chance of double counting. The Bureau’s three-pronged approach had temporary census workers visit  each group quarters and interview its manager or administrator using a  short questionnaire during Group Quarters Validation. As stated above, the  goal was to determine whether the dwelling was a group quarters or some  other type of residence. If the dwelling was in fact a group quarters, it was  then determined what category it fit under (e.g., boarding school,  correctional facility, health care facility, military quarters, residence hall or  dormitory, etc. ), and its correct geographic location was confirmed. This is followed by the Group Quarters Advance Visit operation, which is  currently underway. During the advance visit, census workers verify the  location of the group quarters and identify contact officials, schedule the  date and time of the actual enumeration, and collect other information to  help conduct the actual enumeration. The actual count of group quarters residents is conducted during Group  Quarter Enumeration. The effort includes an operation known as Service- Based Enumeration, during which people commonly referred to as  homeless are counted. Military bases and military/maritime  vessels are also enumerated as part of group quarters. To further ensure an accurate group quarters count, the Bureau employs a  number of quality assurance procedures. Challenges and Opportunities for Counting Group Quarters Residents in Brooklyn

Nationally, the enumeration of group quarters is a difficult task for the  Bureau, and Brooklyn presents its own challenges as well as  opportunities. For example, a planning database the Bureau developed to  help it target its resources placed Brooklyn third on a list of top 50 U.S.  counties with the highest number of people living in hard-to-count areas,  based on data from the 2000 Census. Demographic factors that  contribute to the hard-to-count designations include poverty levels, low  educational attainment, unemployment, and complex household  arrangements, as well as housing indicators such as a high percentage of  renters and vacant units, multi-unit buildings, and crowded housing. In light of these demographic and housing challenges, a successful group  quarters count will, at a minimum, depend on how well the Bureau  executes the following activities:      Complete remaining group quarters activities on schedule. Implement the group quarters quality assurance procedures as  planned, and closely monitor key performance metrics to ensure that  the group quarters count proceeds on track and quickly address any  glitches. Ensure that census workers have knowledge of neighborhood culture  and living arrangements and possess the language skills to reach out to  residents with limited English proficiency.
Why GAO Did This Study

The U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) is tasked with conducting an accurate count of people living in dwellings known as group quarters as part of the 2010 Census. Group quarters consist of college dormitories, prisons, nursing homes, and other facilities typically owned or managed by an entity providing housing, services, or both for the residents. During the 2000 Census, for a variety of reasons, group quarters were sometimes counted more than once, missed, or included in the wrong location. As requested, this testimony will focus on (1) the extent to which the Bureau has strengthened its procedures for counting group quarters compared to the 2000 Census, and (2) particular challenges and opportunities for an accurate group quarters count in Brooklyn. The testimony is based on previously issued and ongoing GAO work in New York and elsewhere.

What GAO Found

The Bureau developed and tested new procedures to address the difficulties it had in identifying and counting group quarters during the 2000 Census. For example, the Bureau moved from manual to GPS-generated map spots, which should reduce the chance of human error and of group quarters populations being counted in the wrong jurisdiction; moved from a telephone interview to a field verification approach, which should increase accuracy; and combined the conventional housing unit and group quarters address lists into a single address list, which should reduce the chance of double counting. Moreover, the Bureau implemented a three-pronged approach to locate and count group quarters. The approach consisted of Group Quarters Validation, where temporary census workers visited each group quarter and interviewed its manager or administrator to determine whether the dwelling was a group quarters or some other type of residence. If the dwelling was in fact a group quarters, it was then determined what category it fit under, and its correct geographic location was confirmed. This was followed by the Group Quarters Advance Visit, which is currently under way. Census workers are to verify the location of the group quarters; identify contact officials; and schedule the date, time and other information to help conduct the actual enumeration. The actual count of group quarters residents is conducted during the third phase of the approach, Group Quarter Enumeration from the end of March to mid-May. The effort includes an operation known as Service-Based Enumeration, during which people commonly referred to as homeless are counted. Additional procedures to ensure a complete count of group quarters include a series of quality assurance procedures, such as supervisory review of workers' assignments. Brooklyn presents challenges as well as opportunities. For example, a planning database the Bureau developed to help it target its resources placed Brooklyn on a list of top 50 U.S. counties with the highest number of people living in hard-to-count areas, based on data from the 2000 Census. Factors that contribute to the hard-to-count designation include poverty levels, high levels of non-English speakers, complex household arrangements, as well as a high percentage of rental and vacant units, multi-unit buildings, and crowded housing. In light of these demographic and housing challenges, a successful group quarters count will, at a minimum, depend on how well the Bureau executes the following activities: (1) complete remaining group quarters activities on schedule, (2) implement the group quarters quality assurance procedures as planned, and (3) closely monitor key performance metrics to ensure that the group quarters count proceeds on track and quickly address any glitches. It will also be important for the Bureau to ensure that census workers have knowledge of neighborhood culture and living arrangements, and possess the language skills to reach out to residents with limited English proficiency.