Have you filled out the 2020 Census? The City Tech Library is advocating that the community take part in this year’s Census. The deadline to fill out the Census is October 31st, 2020. Visit Census.gov to get started or call 844-330-2020.
Census data is confidential, safe, secured, and protected by federal law. This information cannot be shared with law enforcement, including immigration and housing code enforcement.
What is the Census?
The Census is a Constitutional mandate to count the population of the United States and territories. It has been place since the first national count in 1790 and is done every decade.
Why is it important?
The data collected through the Census is used to for a multitude of purposes. This includes funding billions of dollars to communities, such as libraries, schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and more. For example, Census data can be used to determine technology access at local libraries, like new computers, or can be used to plan bus routes.
Populations that are categorized as hard-to-count (HTC), such as those who are difficult to locate, contact, persuade, or interview, are extremely encouraged to take part in the Census. These communities include:
- Young children
- Highly mobile persons
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- Non-English Speakers
- Persons experiencing homelessness
- Undocumented immigrants
- Persons who distrust the government
- LGBTQ persons
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities
- Persons who do not live in traditional housing
According to the CUNY Graduate Center Center for Urban Research, “[b]eing hard-to-count can lead to unequal political representation and unequal access to vital public and private resources for these groups and their communities.”
Data from the Census is also used in research. It is even used in classes and projects at City Tech.
There’s a pandemic! How can I take the Census?
Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, respondents can fill out the Census online or by calling 844-330-2020.
I heard the Census provides jobs?
