Five BIG Reasons Why You Should Fill Out Your Census Form. The questions asked represent the best balance between your community's needs and our commitment to reduce the time and effort it takes your to fill out the form. 1. Help Your Community Thrive. Does your neighborhood have a Lot of traffic congestion, elderly people living alone or over crowded schools? Census numbers can help your community work out public improvement strategies. Non-profit organizations use census numbers to estimate the number of potential volunteers in communities across the nation. 2. Get Help in Times of Need. Many 911 emergency systems are based on maps developed for the last census. Census information helps health providers predict the spread of disease through communities with children or elderly people. When floods, tornadoes or earthquakes hit, the census tells rescuers how many people will need their help. When Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1992, census information aided the rescue effort by providing estimates of the number of people in each block. 3. Make Government Work for You. It's a good way to tell our leaders who we are and what we need. The numbers are used to help determine the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal and state funds. We're talking hospitals, highways, stadiums and school lunch programs. Using census numbers to support their request for a new community center, senior citizens in one New England community successfully argued their case before county commissioners. 4. Reduce Risk for American Business. Because census numbers help industry reduce financial risk and locate potential markets, businesses are able to produce the products you want. "All the Basic Facts You Need to Know to Start a New Business," a publication of the Massachusetts Department of Commerce, shows small businesses how to use census numbers to determine the marketability of new products. 5. Help Yourself and Your Family. Individual records are held confidential for 72 years, but you can request a certificate from past censuses that can be used as proof to establish your age, residence or relationship, information that could help you qualify for a pension, establish citizenship or obtain an inheritance. In 2072, your great-grandchildren may want to use census information to research family history. Right now, your children may be using census information to do their homework. Because we've had a census every 10 years since 1790, we know how far America has come. The law protects your privacy. Individual answers are edited and summed before they are released to the public. 50 Ways to Use Census 2000 * Decision-making at all levels of government * Reapportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives * Drawing federal, state and local legislative districts * Drawing school district boundaries * Budget planning for government at all levels * The distribution of over $100 billion in federal funds and even more in state funds * Spotting trends in the economic well-being of nation * Forecasting future transportation needs for all segments of the population * Planning for public transportation services * Planning for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and the location of other health services * Planning health and educational services for people with disabilities * Forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population * Establishing fair market rents and enforcing fair lending practices * Directing funds for services for people in poverty * Directing services to children and adults with limited English language proficiency * Designing public safety strategies * Urban planning * Rural development * Land use planning * Analyzing local trends * Understanding labor supply * Estimating the numbers of people displaced by natural disasters * Assessing the potential for spread of communicable diseases * Developing assistance programs for low-income families * Analyzing military potential * Creating maps to speed emergency services to households in need of assistance * Making business decisions * Delivering goods and services to local markets * Understanding consumer needs * Designing facilities for people with disabilities, the elderly or children * Planning for congregations * Product planning * Locating factory sites and distribution centers * Investment planning and evaluation of financial risk * Setting community goals * Publication of economic and statistical reports about the United States and its people * Standard for creating both public- and private-sector surveys * Scientific research * Comparing progress between different geographic areas * Developing "intelligent" maps for government and business * Genealogical research (after 2072) * Proof of age, relationship or residence (certificates provided by the Census Bureau) * School projects * Medical research * Developing adult education programs * Media planning and research, back up for news stories * Historical research * Evidence in litigation involving land use, voting rights and equal opportunity * Determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans * Attracting new businesses to state and local areas For additional information about Census 2000, visit the Census Bureau's Internet site at http://www.census.gov or call one of our Regional Census Centers across the country: Atlanta 404-331-0573 Boston 617-424-4977 Charlotte 704-344-6624 Chicago 312-353-9759 Dallas 214-655-3060 Denver 303-231-5029 Detroit 248-967-9524 Kansas City 816-801-2020 Los Angeles 818-904-8622 Now York City 212-620-7702 or 212-620-7703 Philadelphia 215-597-8312 Seattle 206-553-5882 U.S. Department of Commerce An Equal Opportunity Employer Economics and Statistics Administration U.S. Census Bureau BUREAU OF THE CENSUS D-3236 (Rev. 11-99)