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Category census   Show all

  • How Completing Your 2020 Census Keeps Sammamish Healthy

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    April 1, 2020, is Census Day in Sammamish and around the nation. The COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of every resident being counted. The Census helps allocate federal funds that, among other things, ensure Sammamish residents have sufficient funding for public health, which will make us better able to combat health crises.

    Every 10 years, we count everyone in the country. The count is known as a national
    census. And when we say we count everyone, we mean everyone. All residents of
    every ethnicity, regardless of immigration status, including kids, seniors, military
    members, and people experiencing homelessness.

    When we all complete the 2020 Census, we show our community’s strength. A fair
    and accurate count of people will help the government determine how more than
    $675 billion in annual federal dollars are distributed. That’s funding for things like our
    schools, affordable housing, hospitals and health care, emergency services, and
    public transit.

    As we all grapple with the impacts of COVID-19, we’re reminded of how important it
    is to understand the needs of those in our community - and census statistics are a
    critical way for us to know what resources our community may need in urgent times.
    So, while we are staying indoors and protecting the health and safety of our
    community today, we encourage you to complete the census, and protect the
    health and safety of our community for the next 10 years, too.

    Remember - it is your right to complete the census, and it is illegal for the Census
    Bureau to share your information with anyone, including ICE and law enforcement,
    public assistance programs, and other agencies. All answers are kept confidential
    and used only to produce statistics. There is NO citizenship question.

    This is our moment to join together—as a neighborhood, a city, a county, a state, and
    a country—and make sure each and every one of us counts. We are ALL a part of this
    community and we ALL count.

    Complete your census, today. https://my2020census.gov/

    Below, we’ve listed some common questions about the
    2020 Census.

    What is the census?
    It’s how we count people living in the country—every resident, regardless of immigration
    status.

    Why should I participate?
    When we all complete the census, we help the government know where money is
    needed—for things like hospitals, schools, affordable housing, and transportation. It also
    determines how many representatives Washington state will have in Congress.

    Do I have to participate if I did it in 2010 or previous years?
    Yes. In order to count and help our communities, we must all be counted every 10 years.

    Is my information protected?
    Yes. You have the right to privacy in the census—all answers are protected and used only to
    produce statistics.

    Where does all this information go?
    Only the Census Bureau can see the census information. It’s illegal for the bureau to share it
    with any other agency, including ICE, public assistance programs, and other law
    enforcement.

    Is there a citizenship question?
    No—the census has NO citizenship question.

    When is the census happening?
    Starting March 12th, we all received letters in the mail about the census. From March
    through July, you can complete it online at my2020census.gov. If you don’t have Internet
    access or have questions, there are places in your community to complete the census with
    help. Or, a census staffer will visit your home to help make sure you’re counted.

    I don’t have access to a computer; can I complete the census any other way?
    The easiest way to complete the census is online. You can also complete it over the phone at
    844-330-2020 or with a paper form. Organizations in the community will also provide help to
    seniors, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, and anyone else who needs
    assistance.

    How can I get help completing the census?
    For support, you can call the Census Bureau’s helpline:
    English 844-330-2020
    Spanish 844-468-2020
    Chinese (Mandarin) 844-391-2020
    Chinese (Cantonese) 844-398-2020
    Vietnamese 844-461-2020
    Korean 844-392-2020
    Russian 844-417-2020
    Arabic 844-416-2020
    Tagalog 844-478-2020
    Polish 844-479-2020
    French 844-494-2020
    Haitian Creole 844-477-2020
    Portuguese 844-474-2020
    Japanese 844-460-2020
    English (Puerto Rico) 844-418-2020
    Spanish (Puerto Rico) 844-426-2020
    Telephone Display
    Device (TDD) 844-467-2020

    What happens if I don’t complete the census?
    If you don’t complete the census online by early May, a census worker will come to your door
    to help you complete it. You’ll know they’re official because they’ll have a census worker
    badge.

    Do I have to pay money to take part?
    No! The Census Bureau and its staff will never ask you for money or for bank account
    information, social security number, or a political donation. If anyone asks you for money
    related to the census, they are trying to take advantage of you with a scam.