[wm_text_block]What is Census?
Every 10 years, the federal government, through the Census Bureau, counts the total number of people living in the U.S., including citizens, legal permanent residents, visitors, and undocumented immigrants. The census count determines the distribution of federal money to schools, hospitals, roads, job creation programs, etc. The census count also impacts a community’s political power by determining the number of House of Representatives a state will have.

Post April 1 – Important Updates

Starting April 13, 2010, people can request a form in one of the 6 supported languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian) over the phone without referring to the barcode on a mailed Census form.  People can also give their answers over the same phone number.  The Phone Numbers are:

  • English: 1-866-872-6868
  • Spanish: 1-866-928-2010
  • Mandarin Chinese: 1-866-935-2010
  • Korean: 1-866-955-2010
  • Russian: 1-866-965-2010
  • Vietnamese: 1-866-945-2010
  • TDD (hearing impaired): 1-866-783-2010

Forms will no longer be available after April 21.  The phone hotlines will continue to take Census responses over the phone in one of the 6 supported languages until July 30, 2010.  Also, someone other than the head of household, like a neighbor or a staff at a community organization, can help respond over the phone for those who speak a language other than the 6 supported languages.[/wm_text_block]

[wm_image src=”1792″][wm_text_block]Important Dates

  • Early March 2010: An advance letter is mailed to every household alerting them to the coming census questionnaire.
  • March 2010:Census questionnaires are mailed to every household.
  • Late March 2010: Reminder postcards are mailed to tracts with 10% or more linguistically isolated households that speak Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Russian.
  • April 1, 2010: Census Day—all questionnaires are mailed back to Census Bureau.
  • April 2010: Replacement questionnaires are mailed to households that have not returned the questionnaire.
  • April 21: Forms are no longer available. Community members must call the census hotline to request a form until July 30, 2010
  • May-July 2010: Census employees visit homes that have not mailed back their forms
  • December 31, 2010: Census Bureau delivers total population count to President Obama.
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