Counting People in Group Living Arrangements

If you were living or staying in a group living arrangement, also known as group quarters, on April 1, 2020, the Census Bureau had a special process for counting you.

A caretaker reaches down to assist a senior woman, who is seated on a couch. They are both smiling as they clasp hands.

The Census Bureau is no longer collecting responses to the 2020 Census. This page provided details for specific operations during the count.

What Are Group Quarters?

Group quarters are places where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. These places are owned or managed by an entity or organization that provides residents with housing and/or services.

Some examples of group quarters include:

College/university student housing (i.e., dorms, residence halls, etc.)
Residential treatment centers
Skilled nursing facilities
Group homes
Military barracks
Correctional facilities
Maritime and military vessels

For a full listing of group quarters types, please visit Group Quarters Enumeration.

How Are People in Group Quarters Counted?

If you live or stay in group quarters, the Census Bureau will identify a group quarters administrator at your location to ensure that you are counted in the 2020 Census.

Group Quarters Administrators:

If you are a group quarters administrator looking for important information on the process for counting residents at your facility, please visit Group Quarters Enumeration.

What About People Who May Be Experiencing Homelessness?

The Census Bureau also has special processes in place for counting people who may be experiencing homelessness and who are staying or receiving assistance at service-based locations such as emergency and transitional shelters, soup kitchens, regularly scheduled mobile food van stops, and pre-identified non-sheltered outdoor locations.

If you are an administrator for a service-based location, please visit Service-Based Enumeration.

2020: In Focus

How Does the Census Bureau Count People Experiencing Homelessness?