April 1 is Census Day and is observed Nationwide. When you respond to the census, you’ll tell the Census Bureau where you live as of April 1, 2020.

Every 10 years the census counts how many people are in the community to decide how much federal funding and representation it should receive.

This money supports over 130 programs that could help your family immediately. Everyone should fill out Census 2020, so the community doesn’t lose millions of dollars in the next 10 years.

Your responses to the census are important. Your information will not be shared with anyone. In fact, your data is protected by law from other branches of the government.

The census can be filled out by mail, phone (1-800-923-8282) or online (my2020census.gov). It consists of only nine responses and takes 10 minutes per person to complete. There are 13 common languages, It can be completed by phone or online, with guides available for 60-plus languages. Anyone 15 years old or older can take the census for the household.

Important programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and SNAP are funded through census results. The money the city receives based on census data is used to support disaster recovery, road improvements, school lunches and over 130 other programs.

After the 2010 census, the city of Houston missed out on over $10,000 per person not listed on the census. Therefore, it is important for everyone to participate in Census 2020, so millions of dollars will not be lost in the next 10 years.