Senior Connections

Farmingdale Public Library

November/December 2019 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

THE 2020 CENSUS AT A GLANCE

Counting Every Person in the Right Place Every Ten Years

 

The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. The Bureau is dedicated to providing current facts and figures about America's people, places and economy. Federal law requires the Bureau to keep your information confidential and use responses only to produce statistics. The Bureau cannot publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you. It will never share your information with immigration enforcement agencies, such as, ICE, law enforcement agencies, such as, FBI or police, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits.

The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade we take a count--or a Census--of America's population to provide vital information for you and your community:

--It provides how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the states by March 31, 2021.

--Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs including roads, schools, health care, emergency services and more.

--Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop.

 

Each year, the federal government distributes hundreds of billions of dollars to states and communities based on Census Bureau data. In 2020, the Bureau will implement new technology to make it easier than ever to respond to the Census. For the first time, you will be able to respond online, by mail, or by phone. The next Census will be conducted as of April 1, 2020.

(Source: United States Census Bureau. Visit: census.gov for more information)

Our Farmingdale Public Library, represented by Senior Connections, has joined the Senior Citizens Census 2020 Subcommittee and , in collaboration with other subcommittees at Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, are working to ensure  that every Long Islander knows about the Census and the importance of complete count.

Prior to April 2020, the library will provide further details in the newsletter, regarding assistance bring offered to the community on completing the Census.