WHY AM I BEING CONTACTED BY THE CENSUS BUREAU? I RETURNED MY FORM!!
YOUR PARITICPATION AND COOPERATION ARE IMPORTANT! CENSUS TAKERS ARE COMING SOON!
If you forgot to mail it back, don’t worry. Census takers will be coming door to door soon. We are asking all residents to participate and cooperate in this process.
Cleveland could lose up to $240 million dollars over 10 years if you and your neighbors are not counted. This funding will affect Child Care, Public Transit, Food Programs, Job Training, Services for Seniors and much more.
Starting May 1 Census takers will start visiting to ensure that you and your family are counted.
IT IS SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL. Census Takers are your neighbors who have been hired by the Census Bureau to make sure our neighborhoods are fully counted.
All Census takers will have official government badges marked with their name. You may ask the Census taker for a picture ID from another source. The personal information collected CAN NOT be shared with any other governmental agency. For example it can not be shared with the CIA, IRS not even the President.
Census workers will NEVER ask:
- To enter your home
- For passwords or access for credit cards or bank accounts
- For money or donations
- For your full social security number
Do I have to talk to the census taker?
Yes. Your participation in the 2010 Census is vital and required by law, ( Section 221, of Title 13 of the U.S. Code ). However, rather than rely on criminal charges, the Census Bureau is very successful in getting participation by explaining the importance of the questions we ask and how the information benefits our communities.
Your privacy and confidentiality is our priority:
The census taker who collects your information is sworn for life to protect your data under Federal Law Title 13 . Those who violate the oath face criminal penalties: Under federal law, the penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
What is the Census?
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest in history and consists of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the confidentiality of respondents and the information they provide.
