Census 2020: Berkeley Counts!
Alert:The City of Berkeley Health Officer has ordered residents to shelter at home through April 7, leaving only to receive or provide essential services.
All City buildings are closed to the public, and all events and programs have been canceled, including the Census 2020 celebration previously scheduled for April 4.
See cityofberkeley.info/coronavirus for more information and current recommendations from Berkeley Public Health.
It's important that everyone in Berkeley gets counted in the 2020 Census, so we all get our fair share of federal funding and political representation over the next 10 years.
A snapshot of America
The Census is a count of every person living in the United States. It is required by the US Constitution and happens every 10 years.
Everyone should be counted in the Census - old or young, citizen or non-citizen.
The federal government uses Census data to distribute $675 billion to state and local agencies every year. Census results also determine our political representation at all levels of government - from how many seats each state gets in Congress to the borders of our City Council districts.
Getting counted means claiming your fair share
Each person counted in the Census brings back $1,000 a year in federal funding to their community.
This money pays for critical services and infrastructure, including:
- education
- affordable housing
- roads
- public transit
- health care
- food programs
When someone is missed in the Census, our community loses out on $10,000 over 10 years.
How to respond
In March, every home in Berkeley will receive an invitation to complete the Census in the mail.
There are three ways you can respond:
The Census Bureau will send follow-up postcards to households that don't respond promptly, reminding them to complete the Census.
If you haven't responded by May, Census workers will visit your home to collect your information in person.
The Census questionnaire
The Census questionnaire will ask basic information about your household:
- how many people live there
- whether you own or rent
- a phone number to follow up
For each person living in the household, it will ask: their name, sex, age, and race/ethnicity. The Census will not ask about citizenship status.
The Census Bureau has published a sample questionnaire to help you know what to expect.
Who to count
It's important to count everyone living in your home, including:
- children
- extended family
(aunts, cousins, grandparents)
- non-family
(friends, roommates)
If a child living with you splits time between homes, they should be counted where they sleep most of the time. If they split time evenly, they should be counted where they sleep on April 1, 2020.
Get help completing the Census
If you need help filling out the Census form, there will be assistance centers at Berkeley libraries and other locations across Alameda County.
The Census is safe
Your Census responses are protected by strong laws.
The Census Bureau uses the data it collects for statistical purposes only.
It is illegal for the Census Bureau to share your information with anyone - including other government agencies, law enforcement, or landlords. Census Bureau employees take a lifetime oath to protect your data.