FROM THE PRESIDENT
SCOTT KIRKWOOD | GRIFFIS BLESSING
What You Need to Know About the
2020 Census
L
andlords have certain legal duties to assist with
the Census and it is also in our industry’s best
interest to help. The data collected will determine
how approximately $675 billion in federal
funding is distributed each year for things like housing
assistance, infrastructure, and public transportation. It
also determines Colorado’s level of representation with the
federal government.
Colorado has experienced massive population growth - an
estimated 516,000 people - over the last ten years, but this
won't be known until the Census is completed. Consequently,
it is particularly important for the state to receive proper
credit and funding for each new person in Colorado.
A landlord is required to cooperate with persons collecting
federal census information. The cooperation is twofold. Counting everyone in your
household can shape your future.
• Every 10 years, the United States counts everyone living in the country on April 1,
regardless of their nationality or living situation. This includes renters.
•
First, the landlord must provide access to the building or
complex to allow the U.S. Census Bureau representative
to visit units/apartments that have not self-responded.
The landlord should require proper identifi cation from
the offi cial. If you suspect fraud, immediately call 1-800-
923-8282.
Second, the landlord should provide the names of all
known occupants in the apartment. The landlord should
pair the names of the occupants with the specifi c unit
occupied.
To ensure an accurate count, remember to:
Count every person living
or staying in your home.
Respond at the address
where you were living or
staying on April 1, 2020.
What’s in it for me?
The 2020 Census is an opportunity to create a better future for our
communities and the next generation by providing an up-to-date count of
our population. The data collected will help determine how over $675 billion
in federal funding is distributed each year for things like housing assistance,
infrastructure, and public transportation.
The specifi c legal citation to the United States Code is
Section 223 of Title 13, which provides as follows:
For more information, visit:
Whoever, being the owner, proprietor, manager,
superintendent, or agent of any hotel, apartment house,
boarding or lodging house, tenement, or other building,
refuses or willfully neglects, . . . to furnish the names of the
occupants of such premises, or to give free ingress thereto and
egress therefrom to any duly accredited representative of such
Department [Commerce] or bureau [Census], so as to permit
the collection of statistics with respect to any census provided
for in [this law], including, when relevant to the census or
survey being taken or made, the proper and correct Census
enumeration of all persons having their usual place of abode
in such premises, shall be fi ned not more than $5,000.00
2020CENSUS.GOV
D-OP-RE-EN-121
RESOURCES
We are encouaraging all property management
companies to print out fl yers (like the one above)
and utilize video PSAs to distribute to your
residents so they understand the importance of the
Census.
The resources are available at www.aamdhq.org/census2020
6 | TRENDS MARCH 2020
www.aamdhq.org