DENVER (AP) - The U.S. Census has begun efforts to reach new immigrants in Colorado and make sure that homeless people are counted.

Officials say some of the outreach includes co-sponsoring an immigration rally last year and making their presence known with water bottles at a Greeley vigil for immigrants detained in a raid three years ago.

Census workers are also going to Ramadan events to reach Somali immigrants and working to get interpreters for refugees from Bhutan and Burma.

Census officials say in some cases the new immigrants may be afraid of the census because they were kicked out of their home country by their government.

Census workers are also preparing to go to homeless shelters and soup kitchens for the count in March.

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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com