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<br /> <br />The Long and <br />Short of It <br />D-3239 (Rev. 6-99} <br />U.S. C7ep~tia~it of ~crtnm;~~ <br />ir~onarn~c~ end ~tall~~,AidlflflC~t~!-~ttllEln <br />lauiR~~,u t~i;• ~~ c~niaus <br />~y Does the Census Ask <br />so Many Questions9 <br />The questions asked represent the best balance between your <br />community's needs and our commitment to reduce the time and <br />effort it takes you to fill out the form. <br />The census is as important to our nation as highways and <br />telephone lines. Every question is required by law to manage or <br />evaluate federal programs or is needed to meet federal case law <br />requirements. Federal and state funds supporting schools, <br />employment services, housing assistance, road construction, <br />hospital services, programs for the elderly and more are distributed <br />based on census figures. <br />What's New for Census 20009 <br />Most housing units in the country (about 83 percent) will receive the <br />short-form questionnaire in Census 2000. The Census 2000 short <br />form will be the shortest form in 180 years. <br />Five subjects that were on the 1990 census short form have moved <br />to the Census 2000 long form: marital status, units in structure, <br />number of rooms, value of home and monthly rent. The long form <br />can reliably collect this information. <br />Five subjects that appeared on the 1990 census long form were <br />dropped: children ever born, year last worked, source of water, <br />sewage disposal and condominium status. These subjects were not <br />explicitly mandated or required by federal law. <br />Only one new subject was added to the Census 2000 long form: <br />grandparents as caregivers. This information was needed for the <br />Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 <br />(welfare reform). <br />Why Do We Need the Long Form9 <br />The long form provides socio-economic detail needed for a <br />wide range of government programs and federal requirements. <br />Nationwide, it goes out to one in six housing units. But to assure <br />the same level of accuracy everywhere, a larger share of housing <br />units in small towns and rural counties receive this form. <br />Community leaders use the long form for planning a wide range <br />of activities, including neighborhood revitalizal3on, economic <br />development and improved facilities and services. <br />To build highways, roads, bridges and tunnels in areas that need <br />them, planners need information about where people live and work <br />and the times they leave for work. <br />An Equal Opportunity Employer <br />U.S. Census Bureau <br />