Letters

FROM THE DIRECTOR

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

To: Facility Manager

The U.S. Constitution requires that a count of the nation’s population be taken every

ten years. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct a census to count every person residing in the United States. In addition to counting residents living in homes, the Census Bureau will also count people living in group quarters like correctional facilities and residential treatment centers. The 2010 census will provide the information each community relies on to obtain more than $300 billion in federal and state funding distributed each year for health assistance, services for older adults, employment services, schools, and more.

During the 2010 Census, we will enumerate people who live or stay in group quarters, such as group homes, and workers’ group living quarters. We also will count those who stay at facilities that provide living accommodations and other services to people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to provide everyone an opportunity to be included in the Census.

When enumerating people living in group quarters and clients who use services, such as services provided by a shelter or a soup kitchen, we collect each person’s name, gender, age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, and usual residence address.

Census data serve as the basis for many decisions that impact your community and your group quarters facility. Federal and state funds for group quarters facilities are often allocated based on census data. Federal, state, and local governments, businesses, health organizations, financial institutions, educational institutions, and facilities that provide public services rely heavily on information collected during the group quarters operations. Government programs, such as the Public Works and Economic Development Act, rely on census data. This program uses the number of unemployed and low income people to determine a community’s qualification for public assistance.

If you have any questions, please call the Local Census Office. The telephone number is provided in your census materials. Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to working with you to obtain an accurate count.

Sincerely,

Steve Murdock

Director

D-30(L) FM