The U.S. Constitution mandates that the country count its population once every 10 years. The results are used to adjust or redraw electoral districts, based on where populations have increased or decreased.
This year, the country will be conducting a Census, since the previous one was carried out in 2010. Enlace Chicago, together with its Organizing Team and its Census Promoters, has been actively distributing Census-related information within our community.
When you decide to respond and participate in the Census, your answers are confidential. The information is only used to generate statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau must by law protect your responses and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.
For the Census to make a complete and accurate account, it needs the participation of all. Your answers matter. Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding are derived to states and communities each year. This funding helps determine different aspects of each community, regardless of location. For example, the Census helps determine how much money will be allocated to Head Start programs, in addition to repair and construction.
How can you participate?
Once you have received an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census, which should occur around between March 12 and 20, you have the possibility and option to respond: online (internet), by phone or by mail. If you would like to see an example of the questions included in the Census, you can see them at:
Every person living with you should be counted. This includes friends or family who establish your residence as their primary residence as well. It is very important to count all children and newborns, even if they are still in the hospital.
Enlace Chicago and its Census Promoters are available to answer questions you may have regarding the Census, or help you answer the questions through any of the three (3) possibilities.
Some key dates to remember:
March 12 - 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over these three days. As part of this process, the Census Bureau counts people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets, and at non-sheltered, outdoor locations such as tent encampments.
April 1: Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. When you respond to the census, you'll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.