US Census and Property Manager Compliance: Essential Guidelines

US Census and Property Manager Compliance: Essential Guidelines

A census is a legally mandated count of people in the United States and its territories, serving an essential constitutional purpose. While each state has two Senators, the number of Representatives in the House of Representatives depends on the state’s population. This impacts a state’s legislative power and access to government benefits, including those for housing. For property managers in Florida, where the population has increased since the last census, it’s crucial to ensure every person is counted.

National Census Day

National Census Day is April 1st, the reference date for the count. Questionnaires are mailed to residences in March and should be returned in April. From April through July, census takers, known as enumerators, visit homes that did not return questionnaires. Enumerators carry language cards to assist non-English speakers. If residents are not home, enumerators leave a notice to schedule a revisit. Personal interviews take less than half an hour.

Legally Mandated Compliance

Enumerators have the legal right to access individual homes and multi-family properties. They may need to return several times and conduct various follow-up operations. Managers should be prepared for resident complaints about multiple visits and direct them to the Census Bureau. Managers are also required to cooperate with the American Community Survey (ACS), another mandatory survey collecting population and housing information.

Managers’ Cooperation Required

Managers and their agents must permit enumerators access and assist by indicating the best times to contact residents. If contact cannot be made, managers may need to compile information about occupants. Enumerators do not need to provide written requests for information, so managers should be ready to respond quickly.

Verification

Managers can verify enumerator identities by checking their official government ID badges and US Census Bureau bags. If further verification is needed, contact the Regional Census Center in Atlanta, Georgia at 404-335-1555. Enumerators should never request to enter residents’ homes.

Notifying Residents

To reduce the need for managers’ involvement, inform residents about census workers’ presence and their right to verify their identities. Residents should know census workers won’t request to enter homes and will leave follow-up notices if they miss a visit.

Scams

Be aware of census scams. Enumerators do not use email or the internet to contact anyone and won’t ask to enter homes for any reason. They won’t request donations, social security numbers, or detailed financial information. Be cautious of caller-ID, as scam artists can fake it.

Privacy

Managers are legally required to comply with the census and are protected from privacy violations under Section 223 of Title 13, United States Code. Enumerators will provide a Confidentiality Notice, and strict confidentiality requirements are in place. Unauthorized disclosure of personal data by census workers can result in severe penalties.

Information Requested

Managers should provide any requested information they have on file. The questionnaire includes ten questions, some repeated for each occupant. Enumerators will help interpret questions if needed.

Conclusion

Property managers should cooperate with the census to ensure accurate counts, which bring significant benefits to their communities. Complying with the census is a legal obligation and offers economic incentives. For more information, visit the US Census Bureau website.