TIME TO GET COUNTED!

Editor's note: April 1 is a key reference date for the 2020 Census, not a deadline. All residents are strongly encouraged to reply by April, however if you haven’t replied yet you can still respond. Visit Census 2020 Important Dates page for more details.

Don’t go uncounted! The United States Census is going on right now. 

The U.S. Census takes place every 10 years to gather an updated national headcount. All U.S. residents are encouraged to reply by April 1 either online, over the phone or by mail. 

Why it’s important: The results of the census determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. They are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Census data also informs federal funding for more than 100 programs, including school lunches, highway construction, and education. 

Where to count yourself: You should count yourself at the place you are living and sleeping at most. If you are filling out the census for your home you should count everyone who is living or will be living with you as of April 1.

How to respond: To respond over mail, you can mail back the paper questionnaire that was sent to your home. To respond online, visit the Census 2020 website at https://2020census.gov/ and click on the “How to Respond” tab. To respond over the phone in English call 844-330-2020, and for Spanish call 844-468-2020 (for a list of all languages and their numbers visit the Census 2020 website.) Phone lines are open every day from 7 - 2 a.m. EST. 

Impacts of COVID-19: The Census Bureau released a statement regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing that responding now will minimize the need for census takers to go out into communities to follow up. 

Who to contact for help: Libraries and parishes across the Diocese are currently closed to the public but are operating remotely, and can be reached by phone, social media, email or their website. For a list of parishes and their contact information visit the Diocesan website at https://www.rcda.org/. To find a local library for assistance, contact the Upper Hudson Library System at [email protected]. 

For additional questions, contact the New York Regional Census Center at 212-882-7100 or visit the Census 2020 website at https://2020census.gov/.