VIDEO COMPETITION TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CENSUS!
WINNING ENTRY GETS $500 IN WAL-MART GIFTCARDS!
Beginning September 6, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island are joining forces for the Long Island Census Action Week. The campaign uses social media to educate people on the importance of being counted.
The 2020 Census counts the population in the United States and five U.S. territories. The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for the Long Island community. The count will assist in allocating $675 billion in federal funding to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data. The results determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
There are just a few short questions on the Census questionnaire that can be answered in 10 minutes or less, either online, by phone, or by mail. The questions ask about all people, including children, homeless, non-citizens, renters, and everyone else. The answers provided are kept 100% anonymous and are used only to provide statistical data only.
The deadline to complete the census is September 30th. Currently, Suffolk County response rate is at 63.6% and Nassau County is at 69.9%. Additionally, there are significant disparities between communities, with some towns having response rates of almost 80% and others with response rates under 40%. An undercount of the Long Island population could cause New York to lose 2 Congressional representatives and result in the loss of funding for schools, healthcare services, economic development, construction, and a voice for the Long Island community.
During the Census Week, the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island are hosting a contest for the most liked 2020 Census video on Instagram. The video must show why the census is important for the community and to the person. The video must use the hashtag #licounts and tag @lihomeless in order to receive credit. Videos must also include www.my2020census.gov and 844-330-2020 so respondents can complete the census. The winner will be announced the following week and receive a $500 gift card to Wal-Mart. For official rules visit our website.
For more information on the 2020 Census visit www.2020census.gov and take action today!
Official Contest Rules
Contest Period:
The contest begins September 6 and ends 11pm, September 12, 2020. The winner will be notified within 5 days after the end of the contest via Instagram message. All videos must be posted on or after September 6th. Videos posted before September 6 will be disqualified.
How to Enter
-
Post a short video of yourself and friends/family showing why the census is important for your community and to you. You may use any platform to create the video, but only those posted on Instagram will be accepted for entry; only likes on Instagram will be counted.
-
Use #licounts and tag the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (@lihomeless) in your description
-
Tell your friends and followers to vote! The video with the most “likes” will win a $500 Wal-Mart gift card
* One entry permitted per person
* Videos that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless
*Contestants give the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless permission to cross post their entries and use their name/likeness to further promote the Census
The video must include:
-
Why the census is important for your community and to you
-
The census website www.my2020census.gov and phone number 844-330-2020.
Eligibility:
The contest is open only to those who post a video to Instagram using #licounts and tagging the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (@lihomeless) in the description. The account must be ‘public’ in order for the video to be viewed. Contestants must be at least 18 years old or older to enter. Videos must be “family friendly”: no nudity, foul language, racial/ethnic slurs or derogatory language may be used or shown in the video.
Board members, staff, consultants and volunteers of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and their immediate family members are ineligible to enter. Should they post a video and have the most likes, the video with the second most likes will be selected as the winner.
Prize:
The winner will receive a $500 Wal-Mart gift card presented by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Winner Selection:
The winning video will have the most “likes” at the end of the contest, September 12, 2020. The final likes will be tallied at 11pm on September 12, 2020. Winner selection is made by Long Island Coalition for the Homeless Census Consultant, whose decision is final. If the winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, or fails to claim the prize within 5 days, the prize will forfeited and an alternate winner selected.