Have you filled out your Census form yet? You’re at your computer so much—do it today!
All homes in Flagstaff, including apartments, should have received several notifications in March from the U.S. Census Bureau. These include a Census ID unique to each dwelling. For the first time, you can fill out your Census form online. Everyone in the household needs to be counted at the same time, so if you have roommates, get them all together to fill out your form.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, these data are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs legislative district boundaries. They also are used to determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in public funds are allocated to communities for public services and infrastructure like hospitals, emergency services, schools and bridges for the next 10 years.
People can respond online or by phone in English or 12 other languages. There are 59 non-English language guides and videos (plus American Sign Language) available on 2020census.gov. Responding on your own is especially critical this year, as census workers must go door to door to non-responding households.
What you need to know as you respond to the Census:
- Respond where you live as of April 1, which is Census Day. If you are a student living in Flagstaff, respond at your home here.
- Include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of April 1, even if they are temporarily staying somewhere else. The entire dwelling needs to respond at the same time.
- If you received a paper questionnaire, you can still fill out the Census form online.
- Everyone, regardless of immigration status, should respond to the Census. There are no questions about legal status. Questions include name, age, sex and ethnicity.
- The entire process takes 10 minutes or less.
For more information, visit 2020census.gov.