Census Workers are Verifying Addresses

[Jennifer Swanson]

Census Workers are Verifying Addresses in Your Neighborhood
Census Workers will be Visible in Communities Using GPS Handheld
Computers

The Census Bureau has launched a massive field operation to kick off
the 2010 Census. More than 140,000 temporary U.S. Census Bureau
workers are now verifying addresses across the nation as the first
major field operation of the 2010 Census began is underway. It is
called address verification or address canvassing.

Address verification is a critically important step to assure that
every housing unit receives a census questionnaire in March 2010. The
Kansas City Region includes 6 states where approximately 11,000 census
takers will verify and update more than 10 million housing units.
Address verification will take approximately six to eight weeks to
complete.

“With this operation, the 2010 Census literally hits the roads and the
streets. We go to all communities and neighborhoods to make sure
that we have correct addresses,” said Dennis Johnson, Regional
Director. “This is the first publicly visible activity of the 2010
Census. Census workers are not in uniforms, they will have official
identification and they’ll use hand-held computers equipped with GPS
to increase geographic accuracy. We’ve also sent notices about this
operation to law enforcement agencies. ”

Census workers may knock on doors to verify addresses and inquire
about additional living quarters on certain premises. Workers may ask
people in some neighborhoods a few simple questions about housing
units. All information collected including addresses is kept
confidential and protected by law.

By law the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with any
other government agency. No court of law or law enforcement agency can
find out respondents’ answers. All Census Bureau employees – including
temporary workers – take an oath for life to keep census information
confidential.

“The primary goal of the Census Bureau is to count everyone living in
the country, count them once, and count them in the right place.
Census data helps inform the process of reapportioning seats to the
U.S. House of Representatives,” said Dennis Johnson. “Plus, over $300
billion in federal dollars get distributed every year to state and
local governments based on census data. It’s essential to get this
first step right and that’s why we’re out in neighborhoods all over
the region and the country.”

Anyone with concerns about the Census can call this office (612)
216-5950.