| Earn It, Keep It, Save It:
Phoenix Weed and Seed Launches EITC Campaign
Officials join residents in celebrating the opening of a Phoenix VITA center (L to R): Michael Johnson, Vice Mayor; Stephanie Albidrez, Garfield Safe Haven/EITC Coordinator; Wayne Tormela, City of Phoenix EITC Initiative Coordinator; Linda Jackson, IRS; Angie Rodgers, Governor's EITC Taskforce Chairperson; and Phil Gordon, Mayor of Phoenix. |
Garfield working families are getting help claiming thousands
of dollars of earned income tax credits (EITC) and child tax
credits.
The Lupe Sisneros Safe Haven in the Phoenix, AZ, Garfield
Weed and Seed site launched a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) center with residents and Mayor Phil Gordon at a grand
opening event on February 2, 2005. Garfield is one of three
pilot sites opening VITA centers this tax season as part of
a larger CCDO partnership with the Internal Revenue Service
to open 50 VITA centers by 2006.
“We are very excited about adding the VITA center to our Safe
Haven as a way to better serve our Weed and Seed residents,” said
Roberto Frietz, the Garfield site coordinator. “We are using
this opportunity to increase the ability of residents to begin
saving, purchase or repair homes, start businesses or go back
to school. What better way to stabilize and strengthen the
neighborhood?”
VITA centers provide high-quality tax preparation services,
free of charge, to low-income tax filers. The services help
residents receive the full benefit of tax credits for which
they qualify. Up to 25 percent of the individuals and families
who qualify for EITC nationally do not claim this tax credit
of up to $4,300.
VITA centers are becoming a key element of effective neighborhood
restoration strategies for Weed and Seed sites. Sites are also
connecting residents to other services such as food stamps,
the WIC nutrition program, financial literacy, home ownership
preparation, and other opportunities to strengthen financial
stability.
Click on a link below to check out the promotional materials
from the Garfield VITA center. Some materials are also available
in Spanish.
CCDO selected sites from across the country and will offer up to $10,000 per Officially Recognized site to be used for computer equipment to support the launch of a VITA Center. Some additional sites may be selected based on IRS criteria.
For more information on VITA centers as
part of a neighborhood restoration strategy, read “Fighting
Poverty With a New Partner,” which appeared in the winter
2004 issue of In-Sites.
For further information, contact:
Sonia Klukas
CCDO Community Partnerships Officer
202-616-3454
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