Census "pre-letters" arriving at Wisconsin homes

UNDATED (WSAU) Wisconsinites have been getting letters from the U-S Census Bureau, reminding them to fill out their Census forms when they arrive in the mail next week.

Officials say the economic downturn might make it harder to get everybody counted – especially homeless, college students, and non-citizens. Jim Accurso of the Chicago Regional Census Center says families who’ve been hurt by the economy might have moved or are living with relatives. He says his agency will make an effort to count those folks where they now live.

Also, the Census is working to reach more homeless people and non-citizens by visiting soup kitchens and mobile food vans. Accurso says all immigrants should not hide from the Census, because all information is confidential. Individual data is not shared with any other government agency.

At U-W La Crosse, residence life director Nick Nicklaus is working to make sure about nine-thousand students are counted – whether they live on-or-off campus. Census populations determine federal aid for a host of government programs. Forms will be mailed out next Monday.