The City of Hoboken, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the Hoboken City Council today urged residents to complete the 2020 Census, which begins this month. Census forms are anticipated to arrive from the United States Census Bureau in the mail between March 12 and March 20, which will include a unique household ID, along with an invitation to respond. Residents are urged to remain on the lookout for this mailed form in order to complete the 2020 Census.
The Census is a constitutionally mandated count of every person in the United States, occurring once every ten years. The data collected in the Census determines the distribution of over $675 billion in federal funding for communities, and re-draws the boundaries of Congressional and state legislative districts. Passing a threshold of 50,000 residents by just 5 people in the 2010 Census, Hoboken gained eligibility for a $1 million annual Community Development Block Grant for low and moderate-income residents since 2015, and became a prime example of the importance of counting every person.
“In order to gain eligibility for critical funding for our schools, roads, housing initiatives, non-profits, and so much more, it is critical that all Hoboken residents take a few minutes and complete the 2020 Census,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Our City became eligible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding following our successful 2010 Census efforts, and I’m confident we’ll be able to replicate that effort this year. I ask residents to please be on the lookout in the mail for the 2020 Census form this month, and complete the process as soon as conveniently possible.”
On January 15, the Hoboken City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the importance of the 2020 Census for Hoboken, and urged residents to participate in the census. The resolution also declared April 1, 2020 a “Census Day of Action” to encourage a City-wide Census response
Residents will have the ability to respond to the Census over the phone and by mail, in addition to online. Residents are also invited to fill out the Census at designated response centers, which will provide computer access and staff support, at City Hall in the Office of Constituent Services (94 Washington Street, 1st Floor), the Hoboken Public Library (500 Park Avenue), the Office of Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro (80 River Street, 2nd Floor), the Hoboken Historical Museum (1301 Hudson Street), HOPES Family Resource Center (532 Jackson Street), and the HOPES Annex (301 Garden Street).
The Census Bureau is still recruiting for Census taker positions. Please visit http://www.2020census.gov/jobs for more information.
Residents should note that the information from the Census is kept safe and confidential by federal law. Personal information will never be shared with a landlord or government agency.
For more information on the 2020 Census, please visit the City’s dedicated webpage at https://www.hobokennj.gov/census.
