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Options for LUCA Participation

The Three Options

Here are the basics, followed by some additional detail that may make it easier to decide which is the right option for you.

• Option 1 lets you look at and modify the Census Bureau's list of addresses and challenge their count of noncity-style addresses by census block (rural route addresses, for example).
• Option 2 lets you look at the Census Bureau's list of addresses and then submit your own separate address list (city-style addresses only) according to their pre-defined format.
• Option 3 does not let you look at the Census Bureau list. You just submit your own list to them (city-style addresses only) according to their pre-defined format.

Option 1: Full Address Review

• Review the entire Census address list for your jurisdiction, including city-style and noncity-style addresses (requires confidentiality agreement).
• Add, delete or modify city-style addresses in the Census Bureau’s address list.
• While you can't add noncity-style addresses to the file, you can challenge the count of addresses for a census block if you know addresses are missing.
• Identify any additions, deletions, or corrections to jurisdictional boundaries, roads, or other physical features.
• If, after processing your submissions, the bureau says a housing unit doesn't exist when you know it does, you can appeal that decision (for the city-style addresses you submitted and the blocks you challenged).

Option 2: Local Address List Submission

• Review the entire Census address list for your jurisdiction, including city-style and noncity-style addresses (requires confidentiality agreement). You cannot make changes to this file; it is provided for your reference only to help zone in on problem areas
• Submit your local address list (city-style addresses only) in a Census Bureau predefined computer-readable format that includes the census block number.
• Identify any additions, deletions, or corrections to jurisdictional boundaries, roads, or other physical features.
• If, after processing your submissions, the bureau says a housing unit doesn't exist when you know it does, you can appeal that decision (for the city-style addresses you submitted).

Option 3: Non-Title 13 Local Address List Submission

• Review the count of addresses for each census block within your jurisdiction. You cannot challenge these address counts; they are provided for your reference only to help zone in on problem areas.
• Submit your local address list (city-style addresses only) in a Census Bureau predefined computer-readable format that includes the census block number.

Choosing an option

The first consideration: Can you meet the Census Bureau's confidentiality requirements for receiving their address list?

• No: Your choice is easy. You must use Option 3.
• Yes: You may use any of the options.
  • Option 1 gives you the most flexibility.
  • If you have many noncity-style addresses in your jurisdiction, Option 1 is preferable.
  • If you have recently undergone a conversion to city-style addressing, Option 2 may be in your best bet so that you don't have to review the Census Bureau's out-dated list.
  • This two-page pdf comparing the options may help you evaluate which choice is best for you.

Common Misconceptions

1. “Options 2 and 3 are easy!  All I have to do is send my address list(s) to the Census Bureau.”

   Unless you're insanely lucky, you'll need to do a decent amount of clean-up to your file prior to submitting it. Address submissions must conform to a pre-defined format and each address must specify which census block it belongs in. In addition, addresses from multiple lists have to be unduplicated.

2. “Because it sounds relatively easy, block challenge method is the one for me!”

   Block challenges (available with Option 1 only) serve merely to preserve appeal access. In other words, the way the Census Bureau conducts address canvassing doesn't change depending on if a block is challenged or not. Thus, it would not be helpful for you to get the file from the Census Bureau and just challenge all the blocks in your jurisdiction. It is to your benefit to provide city-style address updates wherever applicable rather than just challenging the count of addresses in a block.

3. “If the Census Bureau address list for my jurisdiction shows only noncity-style addresses, all I can do is challenge block counts.”

It’s the type of addresses on the ground that matters. For example, if residents actually use city-style addresses, providing missing city-style addresses is the best way to improve address list coverage.

4. This is too much trouble!  Participating in LUCA can’t possibly be worth it.”

   Address list coverage is critical to obtaining an accurate count and there are many reasons why your community has a vested interest in this program.

As a partner in the Indiana Data Center Program, this site is maintained by the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. If you have questions or comments, contact us here.

The Indiana Data Center Program is a federal-state partnership between the U.S. Census Bureau and the State of Indiana and is managed by the Indiana State Library in collaboration with its coordinating agencies, the Indiana Business Research Center, the Indiana Geographic Information Council and the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.