THE 202O CENSUS

OXFORD IS COUNTING ON YOU

By Alan Atkinson

What do community services, schools, health care, jobs, public safety, construction, and roads all have in common? They are all affected by the information collected as part of the US Census every ten years. Follow along as we find out why completing the census in 2020 is essential for you, your city, your county, and your state. The census is a survey count of every resident in the United States, which happens every ten years. The census affects our voice in Congress, decisions and priorities for community services such as roads, schools, elderly care, and employment centers, and our fair share of over $800 billion in federal funds distributed each year for over 300 federal-assistance programs. Data from the census and other federal surveys determine the shape, size, and makeup of communities down to the neighborhood level. Census data impacts decisions that affect the everyday lives of residents, such as where to open new stores and banks or where to build homes, schools, and roads.

The estimated value of federal funds based upon census derived statistics to the State of Alabama is over $7.6 billion annually and approximately $1,600.00 per person in the state annually. These dollars are distributed through programs such as medical assistance programs, highway planning and construction, school lunch programs, special education grants, low-income home energy assistance, health center programs and many other federally funded agencies and programs.

By April 2020, all households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. There will be three options to respond: online, by phone, or by mail. When completing the census, the key date for the 2020 count is to note where you are living on April 1.

What information will the census ask for?

• How many people are living or staying at your home on April 1, 2020.

• Whether the home is owned or rented. • About the sex of each person in your home.

• About the age of each person in your home.

• About the race of each person in your home.

• About whether a person in your home is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.

• About the relationship of each person in your home.

During the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask you for:

• Your Social Security number.

• Money or donations.

• Anything on behalf of a political party.

• Your bank or credit card account numbers.

Your personal information is kept confidential. The Census Bureau is bound by federal law to protect your information, and your data is used only for statistical purposes.

THE CENSUS WILL IMPACT TEN YEARS OF YOUR LIFE. IT IS A SNAPSHOT THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE COUNTED. WHETHER YOU ARE COUNTED OR NOT COUNTED, IT WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR CHILDREN. WE NEED YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE COUNTED.

There are several ways that you can contact the U.S. Census Bureau for support.

• For general questions: Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, or call 301-763-INFO (4636) or 800-923-8282.

• For information on services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: Call the TTY number at 800-877-8339 to reach the Federal Relay Service.

Questions About Employment For information about the application and hiring process for 2020 Census jobs, call 855-JOB-2020 (855-562-2020).