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The American Community Survey: Challenges and Opportunities for HUD

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Acting quickly in response to an upcoming change in the decennial census and the use of the American Community Survey (ACS), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a new report entitled "The American Community Survey: Challenges and Opportunities for HUD" describing the background of the ACS and its implications for HUD programs and staff.

Background
Since 1940, the Census Bureau has used two questionnaires to collect data for the decennial census: (1) a "short form" that counts the population and gathers basic information and (2) a "long form" that obtains more detailed demographic, housing, social, and economic information from a sample of households.

Beginning in 2003 and every year thereafter, the Census Bureau will conduct the American Community Survey; a large national survey of households that represents a new approach to collecting accurate, timely information that's required for critical government functions.

This new approach provides accurate, up-to-date profiles of America's communities each year. Community leaders and other data users will have timely information for planning and evaluating public programs for everyone from newborns to the elderly. The Census Bureau intends the ACS to serve the same purposes as the long form, and to make the long form unnecessary in future censuses.

The American Community Survey Report
The new report examines the challenges and opportunities that the ACS presents for HUD. Taking into account the technical, policy, and resource issues raised by the ACS, the document contains detailed information on the survey, as well as recommendations for how HUD can best integrate the ACS into its ongoing operations.  

The full report is available at:  https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/polleg/acs.html in PDF Format.

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