Complete your U.S. Census now.

Even with COVID-19 keeping us at home, the United States Census is well underway. This is your opportunity to do your part and help your community and the City and County of Denver. Even if you’re ineligible to vote, you can still take part in the Census. It’s for everyone living here! Since being mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the Census has taken a headcount every ten years since 1790 of people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups residing in the United States. The total count is then used to allocate funds to meet the changing needs of a community. Those funds are critical to public health and safety in times like these.

The Census is fast, simple, and safe.

In just ten minutes, you will have completed the nine-question survey. That’s all it takes. You can also complete it online or over the phone, which means it can be done from the safety of your own home. What’s more, the questions are simple, covering such subjects as your age, your sex, and the number of people living in your household. It’s important to understand that the Census Bureau uses the information they collect to only count every resident in the country and nothing beyond this. Every Census Bureau employee understands and respects the safety and privacy of our citizens and has taken an oath for life to protect the data’s confidentiality. The penalty for unlawful disclosure by a Census Bureau employee could lead to fines of up to $250,000 or federal imprisonment of up to five years, or both. By law, the Census cannot share answers with other local, state or federal agencies or any law enforcement entities. Talk with your family, friends and neighbors about the Census. They’ll tell you that your answers are used only for being counted and nothing more.

Your participation benefits our community. It’s true. The Federal Government distributes approximately $600 billion in funding every year to communities in every corner of America. For Denver, you can anticipate that our city will receive somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.4 billion. This funding will go towards programs important to you and your community:

1. Medical programs that save lives and provide aid, especially important in today’s climate.

2. New construction and rehabilitation for roads, bridges, and railways.

3. Improvements to public transportation as our population continues to increase.

4. Head Start programs providing childhood education, health, and nutrition to families in need.

5. Emergency food and shelter for children, individuals, and families finding themselves in immediate need of help.

6. New jobs are created when businesses use Census data to decide the right time to build factories, offices and retail stores.

7. City planners use data supplied by the Census to determine when it’s best to revitalize older neighborhoods as well as build new homes and communities.

8. Residents use the Census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life, and consumer advocacy.

9. Using the count from the decennial Census, the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are redistributed based on population. Based on 2020 Census data, it is likely that Colorado could gain an additional House seat, creating Colorado House District 8.
   

By not taking part in the Census, according to George Washington University, it has been calculated that the state could lose a minimum of $1,481 annually, or $14,810 over the next decade until the Census will be taken again in the year 2030. That is why it is so important that every one of us takes just a few minutes to help Denver achieve the most accurate count possible and get needed funding for services and programs to help our city, our neighborhoods, and ourselves.

This is it. We ALL need to be part of this important count.

The Census is officially underway. Your household, like every household, should have received a letter in the mail containing a unique code for occupants to use to complete the Census online or over the phone. If you didn’t receive a letter, you can still participate at 2020Census.gov. Your participation makes an incredible difference for you, your community, and all of Colorado. Let’s do this. Get started by visiting denvergov.org/census2020. We also have hotlines for people to call for help on filling out the Census. For Spanish, please call 844-468-2020 and for English, please call 844-330-2020. You can also text the Census Help Desk at 303-622-5881 in English or Spanish. Text and data rates may apply. We may all be home, but we’re all in this together. So do your part to help your community. Make a difference. Be Counted.

Get started at: DenverGov.org/Census2020