Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a review. Households received a letter asking them to complete the 2020 census questionnaire. Respondents have three options for completing the survey: online, by phone, and through the mail. Additionally, the survey is available in English and 12 other languages. Prince William County Government urges you to complete the questionnaire, as results from the survey directly benefit Prince William County residents. Every person counts in the Census.
The Census determines federal funding to localities through the year 2030. In Prince William County, census-allocated funding provided 2,121 families with rental assistance in FY2018, served 35,000 low-income public school students with free or reduced lunches in the 2018-2019 school year and sent 834 children to preschool in the 2017-2018 school year as part of the Head Start program. Census-derived funding programs include Section 8 Housing Vouchers, Medicaid, Medicare Part B, Title I grant to schools, National School Lunch Program, Head Start, WIC, and programs for homelessness, foster care, and crime victim assistance.
Additionally, in fiscal year 2020 Prince William received $12.7 million in federal funding to widen Neabsco Mills Road, $36.7 million for the Neabsco Mills commuter parking garage, $586,000 for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and $28.8 million for an additional segment of the Route 1 widening project. The decennial census is also used to allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, which counties like Prince William can now use for immediate public health needs such as mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The Office of Housing and Community Development will also use CARE Act funding through CDBG grants that will assist low-income households with mortgage, rent, and utility payments during this time of great need.
Census responses are protected by Title 13 confidentiality laws of the U.S. Code and cannot be used against you in any way. When completing the 2020 Census form, remember to count every person that lives or sleeps most of the time at the home, including babies born on or before April 1 and any renters or extended family in the home. The 2020 Census is available in 12 different languages online or by phone with guides in 60 languages. Every household should have already received multiple census invitations along with the paper questionnaire.
If you do not respond to the 2020 Census, you’ll receive a knock on your door from a Census staff member in mid-August through October to help you complete the questionnaire. To take the 2020 Census online, visit my2020census.gov. To take the 2020 Census by phone or to receive assistance with the questionnaire, dial (844) 330-2020. For more phone and language support, visit 2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-by-phone. Together, we make Prince William count.