What is the Census

Every 10 years the U.S. Constitution requires a head count of every person living in the United States, regardless of age, immigration status, income or type of residency. The 2020 Census form will be a short set of questions about the number of people living in your household, their ages, race, ethnicity and income. Your response determines the City’s population for the next 10 years.

Here’s what else to know:

• The 2020 Census count will start in mid-March 2020 and continue until July 2020. This will be the first time people can fill out their Census form online. Paper forms also will be available, and call centers will be open to assist people in 12 languages to fill it out over the phone. For those who have not filled out their Census form by the end of April 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will send Census workers to those homes or apartment buildings to get their responses.
• Federal law does not allow Census information to be used for any purpose other than the Census. The information on your form cannot be shared with any other government agency or department, nor with any private company, law enforcement, the courts or any individual.
• You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be counted. Whether you have to answer a question on the Census about your citizenship status is a matter now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• People who have no residence, or live at two or more residences during year, or are traveling for a long period of time, are counted at the residence where they live and sleep most of the time. College students living away are counted at the on-campus or off-campus residence where they live and sleep most of the time. Those staying in shelters or living outdoors are counted where they are staying on April 1, 2020.