“We’ll go behind dumpsters, stores, under bridges, anywhere we think the homeless might be. If you’re just a breathing body on American soil, we don’t care if you’re here legally or illegally, you get counted.”

Noting that the census paints a portrait of American life, U.S. Census Bureau Information Services Specialist Genora F. Barber told the Seven Hills Rotary Club that census conductors go above and beyond to get an accurate count.

She spoke at length about the American Community Survey, which gives a general glimpse of a region’s social, economic, housing and demographic characteristics.

“The American Community Survey is going to give you the data you want, especially about your community when it comes time to make pertinent decisions,” Barber said. “Whether you need a new bus stop, a park or an addition to your school, that information will come out.”

Barber stressed that the information gathered from the 2010 Census is now collected in the American Community Survey.

That survey asks questions ranging from what mode of transportation you take to work and how long it takes you to commute there.

The data from the survey will provide information anywhere from which community homes use electricity, gas and indoor plumbing to information on educational facilities.

She said census conductors try and get an accurate count of people, regardless of who they are or where they are found.

Barber ended with a brief website tutorial on how people can access these surveys and the data collected from them. For more information, she encouraged members to visit www.census.gov, and for specific questions, Barber can be contacted at genora.f.barber@census.gov.