9 questions determine next 10 years for Montana
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News from Montana Census
MONTANA – The 2020 Census will ask only nine simple questions, which will take less than 10 minutes to fill out. This 10 minutes of your time determines Montana’s representation, funding and data for the next 10 years.
Census data is confidential, so your answers cannot be shared by the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2020 Census will ask for the following information:
Number of people at address: This question is asked to provide an accurate count of the number of people at each address on Census Day, April 1. This gives a snapshot of various communities across the state and the nation.
Any additional people living or staying there: This question is asked to ensure everyone living at the address is counted once, only once, and in the right place.
Owner/Renter: This question is asked to create statistics about home ownership and renters. Home ownership rates help serve as an indicator of the nation’s economy and help in administering housing programs and informing planning decisions.
Phone Number: A phone number is requested in the unlikely case the U.S. Census Bureau needs to contact you for official Census business. If you get a call, be sure to verify that the caller is a Census employee.
Name: Names are asked to ensure everyone in the household is counted only once and having names helps Census workers remove duplicated responses.
Sex: Sex is asked for to create statistics about males and females and ensure that government funded programs fairly and equitably serve the needs of both sexes.
Age and date of birth: This question is asked to understand the size of different age groups. Local, state, tribal, and federal agencies use age data to plan and fund government assistance and services for specific age groups such as children, working-age adults, or seniors. The information also helps enforce laws, regulations, and policies against age discrimination.
Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish orgin: The data collected in this question is needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions. The information, along with race data, is also used to gauge educational opportunities, assess equal employment practices, and ensure equal access to healthcare for everyone.
Race: Race data is used in planning and funding government programs that provide funds or services for specific groups. This data is also used to evaluate government programs and policies to ensure that they are fairly and equitably serve the needs of all racial groups.
Relationship: Local, state, and tribal governments and federal agencies use relationship data to plan and fund government programs serving families, people living or raising children alone, grandparents living with grandchildren, or other households that qualify for additional assistance.
