2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review

2020 Post-Census Group Quarters
Review (PCGQR)
2020 PCGQR provides governments the opportunity to ask the U.S.
Census Bureau to review 2020 Census group quarters population
counts.
The 2020 Post-Census Group Quarters Review (PCGQR) provides a mechanism
for governmental units in the United States and Puerto Rico, or their
designated representatives, to request that the U.S. Census Bureau review
their population counts of group quarters they believe were not counted
correctly as of April 1, 2020.
If the review process finds discrepancies in these population counts
supported by sufficient documentation, approved revisions to the group
quarters population will be provided to the Population Estimates Program.
These updates will be incorporated into the next population base that the
production schedule allows. The population estimates developed from the
updated population base will also be used by the American Community
Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey as survey controls so that the
population totals from the survey conform to the updated population
estimates.
Please note that the 2020 PCGQR does not constitute a recount for the 2020
Census. For example, 2020 Census data products and counts delivered to the
President for apportionment, or the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171
Redistricting Data Files and Geographic Products will not be updated as a
result of the 2020 PCGQR.
A group quarters (GQ) is a place where people live or stay in a group living
arrangement that is owned or managed by an entity or organization providing
housing and/or services for the residents. These services may include
custodial or medical care as well as other types of assistance, and residency is
commonly restricted to those receiving these services. This is not a typical
household-type living arrangement. People living in group quarters are
usually not related to each other.
Group quarters include such places as college/university student housing,
residential treatment centers, nursing/skilled-nursing facilities, group homes,
correctional facilities, and workers’ group living quarters and job corps
centers.

The Census Bureau will respond to all 2020 PCGQR requests
and notify the affected government of any updates.
The Census Bureau will respond to all cases, even if the case is
considered ineligible for 2020 PCGQR, and will notify the affected
governmental unit of any updates resulting from a 2020 PCGQR
decision in the form of an official determination letter.

2020 PCGQR participants
will not see the actual
population counts of a
specific census block
because they are
subject to privacy
protections.

2020 Census data, including
population counts associated with
individual census blocks, are subject
to disclosure avoidance methods.

More information on Census Bureau
disclosure avoidance methods and
efforts to ensure individuals’ privacy
can be found at
.
These measures are taken to protect
the privacy of the individuals who live
in housing units and group quarters.
Therefore, 2020 PCGQR participants
will not see precise counts of people
below the state level in published data
or in updated data.
If updates are warranted regarding the
group quarters population counts, the
Census Bureau will send a letter with
the decision to the highest elected
official of the governmental unit.

2020 PCGQR Case Type
Group quarters population cases – request a Census Bureau
review of population counts for valid group quarters by block
to address discrepancies. The 2020 PCGQR can only review group quarters
that existed and were available for occupancy on April 1, 2020. Corrections
submitted should be consistent with the 2020 Census Residence Criteria
and Residence Situations and additional guidance provided by the
Census Bureau due to the COVID-19 pandemic found at .

Submitting a 2020 PCGQR Case

Schedule

Governmental units must submit their cases electronically using the
Census Bureau’s Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM). The template for
data to support your case, participant guide, and other supporting
materials are available free for download from .

2020 PCGQR occurs between June X, 2022,
and September 30, 2023.

The Census Bureau will only accept cases that initiate from the highest
elected or appointed official of tribal, state, and local governmental units,
or their designated representative.

Example Scenario and Outcomes of a 2020 PCGQR Investigation
A town representative reviews the population counts of group quarters for
individual census blocks and believes the population count for one census
block is low because of the large student housing facility located in the
block. The town’s designated 2020 PCGQR representative can provide
evidence of the population as of April 1, 2020.
Possible outcomes include:
The town representative submitted evidence provided by the student
housing administrator that supports that the student housing was
undercounted in the 2020 Census. Census Bureau staff provide updated
group quarters population counts for the affected blocks to the
Population Estimates Program for incorporation into the base population
for upcoming vintages of estimates. Updated data will be included in the
next population base according to the production schedule. The
population estimates developed from the updated population base will
also be used by the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico
Community Survey as survey controls so that the population totals from
the survey conform to the updated population estimates.

•

•

After the Census Bureau notifies the
public in May 2022, it will accept cases
from the highest elected or appointed
official in each tribal, state, and local
government for 2020 Post-Census
Group Quarters Review (PCGQR)
between June X, 2022 and June 30, 2023.
Revised group quarters population
counts will be provided to the
Population
Estimates Program for
incorporation into the next population
base that the production schedule allows.
The review for all cases concludes on
September 30, 2023. More information
about the 2020 PCGQR can be found at
.
For additional assistance, please contact
the Census Bureau by email at:
or by telephone
at 1 (844)-242-1765.

Evidence provided by the town representative indicates a group quarters
in the census block is new and did not exist on April 1, 2020. This should
not be included in an updated group quarters population base for use by
the Population Estimates Program. The PCGQR case would be denied and
appropriate feedback will be issued to the town representative.

Eligible Participants
The following active, functioning governmental units are eligible
to participate:
•
Tribal areas, including federally recognized American Indian tribes
with reservation and/or off-reservation trust lands, Alaska Native
Regional Corporations, and Alaska Native villages.
•
States and equivalent entities (District of Colombia, Puerto Rico).
•
Counties and equivalent entities.
•
Minor civil divisions (e.g., townships).
•
Consolidated cities.
•
Incorporated places (e.g., villages, towns, cities).

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