There are a lot of ways to be a good neighbor, but have you ever considered participating in the census as one of them? If not, you should. Every 10 years, the federal government conducts a population count of everyone in the United States. Data from the census provide the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country.
This year is a census year and like so many things, the timing and efforts to support the census have been impacted by COVID-19. The date to participate in the census has now been extended to October 31 and is available online, by phone, or through a mail-in form. If you have not been counted it’s not too late!
Starting in late July and early August census takers will be begin going door to door to those residences that have not responded to ensure an accurate count. Even a 1% undercount can result in millions of lost programming dollars for our community impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care, and public policy. Census data are also used to redraw the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts and accurately determine the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Fort Collins is currently at a 70% response rate. Now, more than ever, is the time to make sure you and your neighbors are counted and helping to shape our community for the next 10-years. The census will collect basic information about the people living in your household and you should count everyone who was living in your household on April 1, 2020. The Census Bureau will never ask for Social Security numbers, bank or credit card account numbers, money or donations, or anything on behalf of a political party.
Data collected can only be used for statistical purposes that help inform important decisions, including how much federal funding our community receives. Completing the census will benefit all of us and completing it early will prevent census takers having to come to your door. Talk to your friends and neighbors today about being counted!
You can learn more about the 2020 Census by visiting https://2020census.gov.