ORANGE — The town clerk and Council on Aging, in conjunction with the U.S. Census Bureau will be hosting a Questionnaire Assistance Center on two days at the Armory.
The center will be available Thursday, March 19, 12:30 to 1:30 and again 5:30 to 6:30. It will also be available on Monday, March 30, 11 a.m .to 3 p.m.
The center will be staffed by volunteers who will assist residents in completing the census online.
This year, the Census Bureau is hoping that residents will complete their form online. Census volunteers will help residents who do not have a computer or are not sure how to complete the form online. The only item needed is the date of birth for each member of the household.
It is important that everyone in Orange is counted as this data determines the resources for the community and the representation we receive in the government. The 2020 Census data will determine the allocation of $675 billion in federal funding every year to states across the United States. For Massachusetts, more than $16 billion is affected by the census.
Census data also determines the redistricting at all levels of government: legislative districts at the municipal level, state legislative districts and congressional districts.
It is estimated that $2,372 per person in annual federal resources will be lost for every person not counted in the Census.
Census data is safe and confidential. The Census Bureau takes many steps to protect everyone’s data, and federal law strictly limits how the information can be used.
U.S. Code Title 13 protects the confidentiality of individual responses. Private information (names, addresses, phone numbers) is not published until 72 years after collection.
Census responses cannot be used against you in any court of law or by law enforcement. No agency can access your individual responses. Census staff take a lifetime oath and if violated the penalty is up to $250,000 and/or up to 5 years in prison.
If you know someone who may need help completing their Census form, please encourage them to attend one of these sessions.