WESLACO – The 2020 Census initiatives have already begun in the Rio Grande Valley and there are some facts you need to be aware of so you can get counted.

Officials describe Valley people as under counted and scared when it comes to census participation, something Abraham Diaz says needs to be addressed.

Diaz has been working with a local nonprofit to get the census message out, so far he is facing some challenges; a major one being people who have post office boxes instead of a mailing address.

That can be fixed for free through the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council.

National representative Timothy Olson from the U.S Census Bureau says people should not be afraid come census time – the census data determines how federal money is distributed for social services, schools and city projects.

Watch the video for the full story.