Oxford residents who didn’t mail back their 2010 United States Census form can expect a visit from Sue Kinch’s crew.
Kinch, a village resident, is leading a team of Census employees who will hit the streets the first week in May in an effort to count the uncounted.
‘The government is sending out people to go knock on doors to find out what the status of that house was on April 1 ? who was living there,? she said. ‘We’re trying to make sure everyone’s counted.?
Census forms had to be mailed back by April 16. Participation in the Census is mandatory by federal law.
Kinch hasn’t been informed yet as to how many houses her team will be responsible for visiting, but she knows the process will take a while.
‘We do expect this to be a four-to-six week gig,? she said. ‘I think I’m going to have somewhere between 16 and 20 people (on the team). They should all be from our local zip code.?
Kinch and all the members of her team are paid government employees, not volunteers.
It’s interesting to note that according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s website, if 100 percent of American households mailed back their Census forms, it would save the taxpayers $1.5 billion.
Although she’s getting paid for it, Kinch said her real motivation for doing this is the opportunity to meet people.
‘I want to get to know my community better,? she said.
Kinch noted if a Census taker comes to your door, they will be asking the same questions contained on the form originally mailed out ? nothing new, nothing different. The whole interview process generally takes about 10 minutes.
Household members who count in the Census include babies, children (including foster children), roommates, boarders and people staying there on April 1 who have no permanent place to live.
Those who don’t count include college students who live away form the address most of the year, Armed Forces personnel who live elsewhere, people in a nursing home or mental hospital and people in jail, prison or other detention facility.
‘You don’t want to count college kids that are up at school because they were already counted up there,? Kinch noted.
Why is participating in the Census so important?
‘There’s money out there and the way that it’s disbursed is by how many people are in what area,? Kinch said.
According to the Census Bureau, accurate data is ‘critical in the federal and state formulas used to distribute funds in areas such as education and transportation.?
Census data is also used to apportion representation in the U.S. Congress as well as state legislatures and local school boards.
Census takers are not allowed to reveal any of the information they learn from interviewing people.
‘The big thing that they stressed and stressed over and over in training is to assure people that the information is confidential,? Kinch said.
All U.S. Census Bureau employees take an oath and are subject to a federal prison sentence of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000 or both, if they disclose any information that could identify a person or their household.
The answers are only used for statistical purposes. According to the law, individual Census data becomes public after 72 years. This information can be used for family history and other types of historical research.
Kinch said people have nothing to fear by answering the Census questions.
‘People don’t have to worry about being illegal aliens and stuff like that,? she said. ‘That’s not what this is about. It’s just a statistical gathering of information.?
If a Census taker comes to your door, Kinch said ‘it makes sense to take the time and get it done? because even if a person refuses to participate during the initial visit, that’s not the end of it.
Each household is subject to up to three personal visits, and up to three phone calls from Census takers.
‘Three visits, three calls is the max,? Kinch said. ‘That’s what my people are allowed to do.?
If no one is home when the Census taker visits, a written notice will be left asking the occupant to please call to discuss when they can do the interview. The notice counts as one of the three personal visits allowed.
If a house appears to be vacant or all six contact attempts have been unsuccessful, the Census workers can attempt to get a proxy from a neighbor ‘to tell us what the status was of that house on April 1,? Kinch said. by answering the Census questions.
‘People don’t have to worry about being illegal aliens and stuff like that,? she said. ‘That’s not what this is about. It’s just a statistical gathering of information.?
If a Census worker comes to your door, Kinch said ‘it makes sense to take the time and get it done? because even if a person refuses to participate during the initial visit, that’s not the end of it.
Each household is subject to up to three personal visits, and up to three phone calls from Census workers.
‘Three visits, three calls is the max,? Kinch said. ‘That’s what my people are allowed to do.?
If no one is home, when the Census worker visits, a written notice will be left asking the occupant to please call to discuss when they can complete the interview. The notice counts as one of the three personal visits allowed.
If a house appears to be vacant or all six contact attempts have been unsuccessful, the Census workers can attempt to get a proxy from a neighbor ‘to tell us what the status was of that house on April 1,? according to Kinch.