Questions and Answers

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AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY census.gov/acs

What is the American I have not heard of the Community Survey? American Community Survey. &How long have you been The American Community Survey is a survey conducted by the U.S. conducting it? Census Bureau in every county, The American Community Survey American Indian and Alaska began in 1996 in a sample of Native Area, and Hawaiian Home counties across the country. Land. Today the survey is conducted The American Community Survey in all U.S. counties and in Puerto provides critical economic, social, Rico, where it is called the Puerto demographic, and housing infor- Rico Community Survey. mation to this country’s commu- nities every year. Communities tell us the American Community Survey helps them make in- formed decisions and is a key to their future.

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How are the answers that working-age adults, or the I provide to the American& elderly. Community Survey used? • Responses to questions about The questions on the American income and housing are Community Survey are required summarized and used by the to collect data needed to man- U.S. Department of Housing age or evaluate government and Urban Development to programs. These questions are assess the need for housing essentially the same questions assistance for elderly, that have been asked as part of handicapped, and low-income the decennial census. homeowners. • Income information makes • Information about race, it possible to compare the Hispanic origin, and language economic levels of different spoken at home is used to areas. Many federal and state determine bilingual election programs use such data to requirements under the Voting distribute funds for commu- Rights Act and the monitoring nity development. of equal employment • Your answers to the questions opportunities under the Civil on journey to work are used Rights Act. Race and Hispanic by the U.S. Department of origin (or ethnicity) are con- Transportation to plan high- sidered distinct concepts and, way improvements, develop therefore, require separate public transportation services, questions. and design programs to ease • Information about military traffic problems. service is used primarily • Information about age is used by the U.S. Department of in federal programs to target Veterans Affairs to measure funds or services to children,

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the needs of veterans and to • Local governments for bud- evaluate veterans’ programs& geting, evaluating programs, dealing with education, employ- and planning for community ment, and health care. development projects. • Community programs, such How do I benefit by as those for the elderly, scout answering the American programs, libraries, banks, Community Survey? hospitals, and other commu- Federal agencies, states, and nity organizations, to provide communities say that they do services to the community not have the up-to-date infor- and to locate buildings, ser- mation they need to better vices, and programs. understand community issues, • Transportation planners, respond to needs, and allocate using journey-to-work in- programs and resources. As formation, to plan for peak one community leader said, volumes of traffic in order “Guessing is always fun, but to reduce traffic congestion, seldom effective.” plan for parking, and develop By responding to the American strategies, such as carpooling Community Survey question- programs and flexible work naire, you are helping your schedules. Decisions are made community establish community to build new roads or add ca- goals, identify community prob- pacity to existing roads, and lems and solutions, locate facili- to develop transit systems, ties and programs, and measure such as light rail or subways, the performance of programs. by projecting future needs. The American Community Survey data are used by:

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Do I have to answer the Do I have to answer the questions on the American& survey if I am staying at Community Survey? this address temporarily? Yes. Your response to this sur- Yes. If you are staying at the vey is required by law (Title 13, address for more than 2 months, United States Code, Sections you must complete the entire 141, 193, and 221). The same survey. If you are staying for 2 law protects the confidential- months or less, you must still ity of the information that you complete a portion of the survey, provide. according to the instructions. A Census Bureau representative Do I have to answer these can assist you. This information questions every year? helps communities plan as the No. Only a small sample of ad- population changes at different dresses is selected to participate times of the year. in the American Community Survey. An address may only Are my survey answers be selected for the sample once confidential? every 5 years. These addresses Yes. The U.S. Census Bureau is are selected at random and required by law to keep your represent other addresses in the information confidential. We are community. That is why it is so not permitted to publicly release important that every sampled your responses in a way that household respond. could identify this household. Per the Cybersecurity Enhance- ment Act of 2015, your data re protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.

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By law, the Census Bureau can I am elderly, disabled, only use your responses &to or otherwise unable to product statistics. complete the American Community Survey question- How can I see the results of naire. What do I do? the survey? You may designate another This information is published on person to help you, or a Census the Census Bureau’s American Bureau representative may call FactFinder® Web site at you or may come to your house factfinder.census.gov and assist you in completing the survey. Respondents may call The data are provided in several 1-800-354-7271 for assistance. formats for everyone from beginners (who may just want To produce the most accurate to look at the data) to results, it is very important that experienced researchers. every household selected for the survey participate. American FactFinder® provides tables that: • provide an overview of the data quickly, • compare data for different places, and • provide more extensive data for more detailed research.

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How can I get additional information about the American Community Survey?& There are several ways to obtain information about the American Community Survey: For detailed information, we encourage you to visit our Web site at: census.gov/acs or call the Census Bureau’s Regional Office nearest to you as listed below:

Census Bureau Regional Offices Atlanta, GA Los Angeles, CA 1-800-424-6974 1-800-992-3530 Chicago, IL New York, NY 1-800-865-6384 1-800-991-2520 Denver, CO Philadelphia, PA 1-800-852-6159 1-866-238-1374

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For questions about the& You may also contact us by American Community Survey e-mail data or how to view survey ask.census.gov results, call our Customer Services line at: or 301-763-INFO (4636) via U.S. mail at: 1-888-346-9682 American Community Survey U.S. Census Bureau 4600 Silver Hill Rd. Washington, DC 20233-7500

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AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

E-mail: ask.census.gov

Phone: 1-888-346-9682

Internet: census.gov/acs ACS-51(HU) Issued January 2018