Frequently Asked Questions About the 2010 Census
Exactly who is counted during the census count?
The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States: in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and America Samoa. This count includes people of all ages, races, ethnic groups – both citizens and non-citizens.
Why do we count residents?
The Census data determines the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Census data also can help determine the allocation of federal funds for community services, such as school lunch programs and senior citizen centers, and new construction, such as highways and hospitals
How does the U.S. Census Bureau count us?
Questionnaires will be mailed one to three weeks before Census Day: April 1, 2010. Residents complete the questionnaire and mail it back to the U.S. Census Bureau.
How many questions will the 2010 Census entail?
The 2010 Census questionnaire has 10 easy questions for the head-of-household. For each additional person living in the household, there are seven of the same questions asked to the head-of-household (usually the person answering the questions). The simple, short questionnaire takes only minutes to complete and return by mail.
Will my information be safe and remain confidential?
Yes. The accuracy of the census depends on your cooperation and trust and the U.S. Census Bureau promises to protect the confidentiality of your information. For more information, see the U.S. Census Bureau’s data protection and online privacy policy.
Who should fill out the census questionnaire?
The individual in whose name the housing unit is owned or rented should complete the questionnaire on behalf of every person living in the residence, including relatives and non-relatives.
What kind of assistance is available to help people complete the questionnaire?
2010 Census questionnaire language assistance guides are available in a variety of languages. Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) will also assist those unable to read or understand the questionnaire. Large-print questionnaires are available to the visually impaired upon request, and a Teletext Device for the Deaf (TDD) program will help the hearing impaired.
Where will I be counted?
Most people are counted at the home or apartment they sleep at most of the time.
Where are college students counted?
The 2010 Census counts people where they physically live most of the time as of April 1, 2010, NOT their legal or voting address. Since college students typically live at their college address 8 months a year and their parents’ home for 4 months a year, they should be counted at their COLLEGE address.
Where are people with more than one home counted?
The 2010 Census counts people where they physically live most of the time as of April 1, 2010, NOT their legal or voting address. Therefore, people who have more than one home should return the 2010 Census questionnaire from the address they live the longest during the year. For example, if someone lives in Leon County from mid-October to mid-May, 7 months, and in New York during the rest of the year (mid-May to mid-October), 5 months, they should return the questionnaire for their Leon County address and indicate that they “live at a seasonal or second residence” for the last question asked of each person.
Where should people be counted that are temporarily living with family and/or friends
on April 1, 2010?
Many people who cannot afford their own homes or apartments will move in with family and/or friends for a period of time. These people should be included in that housing unit’s questionnaire.
How are the homeless counted?
Because there is no clear definition of the homeless population and they actually have many different living arrangements, the Census Bureau has a very difficult time counting and reporting this population. The Census Bureau counts this group in several operations. One of these operations is to count people getting services at places such as homeless shelters or mobile food vans. Another operation is to work with local communities and advocates for the homeless to identify places where the homeless congregate at night, such as specific parks, streets, or under bridges. Then the Census Bureau will send enumerators out to count people at these locations on a particular night in March 2010.
|
