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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 01132004 - PR2 Contra Costa County TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS M FROM: William B. Walker, M.D., Director Contra Costa Health Services DATE: December 16, 2003 SUBJECT: Family Economic Security Partnership Recommendation: Accept report and Adopt Resolution proclaiming support for Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership. Background: The Family Economic Security Partnership is a public, private and non-profit collaboration designed to increase the income and build the assets of low-income families and individuals in Contra Costa County. The Partnership (FESP)was launched in September 2003 ,after planning meetings in the preceding winter and summer, a pilot project by the Service Integration Team, and the start of the Greater Richmond VITA Initiative. FESP is part of a national movement to assist people who are working but still unable to make ends meet. That assistance takes two forms - providing free tax preparation services with an emphasis on increasing the claiming of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and other federal and state tax credits created to increase the incomes of low income workers, and engaging low income workers in a gradual process of building financial assets for the future. The sponsors of Contra Costa's FESP are the United Way of the Bay Area, First 5 Contra Costa, the IFAS, Employment and Human Services, Health Services and RichmondWORKS/City of Richmond. Along with crucial funding from local foundation, the sponsoring organizations are contributing the staff and other financial resources to roll out the'Partnership's initial campaign,;Earn It!Keep It!Save It! Contra Crista. The United Way of the Bay Area is serving as the resource developer and fiscal agent for the Partnership and is providing valuable guidance based on its experience in fostering similar efforts in other Bay Area counties. The Internal Revenue Service is providing extensive technical assistance based on its experience throughout the country of working with county agencies, non-profits and faith-based organizations to provide free tax preparation for 33 years at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. First 5 Contra Costa is coordinating the outreach and marketing functions; EHSD is taking the lead on recruiting volunteers and organizing the VITA sites; Health Services is providing overall coordination and RichmondWORKS is sharing its expertise and operating a large VITA site in West County. Fiscal impact: None CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; _,& Yes No SIGNATURE: [A'140Z, —RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE —APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON j (;�i�� . % � '��'� APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED 4 OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND AYES: NOES: CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS T`HE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED�t�41 t/fZk f,( ( J Contact Person: Mary Foran,Health Services Admin.5-5(110 ,JOHN SWEETEWtL RK CO 11'528o D OF SUPERVISORS A COU-RTY ADMINISTRATOR cc: Mary Foran,Health services Adminf' , A" Health Services Department Admin. BY �- DEPUTY B.Ockground. (cont.) Need for the Pgrtnersh : While the majority of Contra Costa families have the incomes to meet basic needs and more, an estimated 13,000 Contra Costa families (including nearly 24,000 children under the age of 18) have incomes below the federal poverty level ($18,000 for a family of 4). 30,800 Contra Costa families are struggling to meet their children's needs with incomes below 185% of the poverty level (under$34,040). Many of these families are "working poor;" they are heeded by one or more working adults, who, despite being employed, are not earning sufficient income to adequately provide for their families. According to IRS estimates, over 10,000 eligible taxpayers in Contra Costa do not claim the FITC, and as a result do not receive over$8 million in refunds due to them. Imagine how that money could improve family life and the local economy. These figures sparked the imagination of the sponsors and drew several more public agencies and community organizations to join together. These include the Community Services Department, the Housing Authority, Greater Richmond VITA initiative, the community colleges, Opportunities for Technology Information careers, churches, Catholic Charities of the East Bay, Lao Family Community Development and more. What will the Partnerships Do in 2004? The goal for the 2004 tax season campaign is to put$1 million in tax refunds into the hands of over 700 Contra Costa individuals and families who are low income. Seven new Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites will join five that operated last year, for total of five in East County, two in Central County and five in West County. Over 125 volunteers have been recruited to prepare tax returns, and more are signing up each day. The IRS is providing the training materials that will be taught to the volunteers by volunteer trainers during multi-day training sessions in January. Local banks and credit unions are being asked to provide incentives to encourage people to replace their use of high cost check cashing services with lower cost bank or credit union accounts. i At the end of the tax season we will evaluate how well we did and begin planning for 2005. FESP is designed to be a multi-year collaboration that each year will grow to support more VITA sites, reach more low-income taxpayers and increase the claiming of tax refunds. Our measure of success will be the growth of tax refunds to individuals and families who need more than they have to support themselves and their families. We will also work to help filers get the most out of their returns by offering opportunities to build their assets. Request for Board of Supervisors' Suo0ort The Family Economic Security Partnership needs the participation of individuals, cities, norm-profits, businesses and banks to succeed. In order to increase our visibility and credibility, we request that the Board of Supervisors declare its support for the work of the Partnership by adopting the attached resolution. c_,,•✓�i�� CRL2%� Ali' ��G In the Matter of Proclaiming Support for Contra Costa County's ) Family Economic Security Partnership ) Resolution No.2004/21 WHEREAS,Contra Costa residents have begun preparations to file their income tax returns between January 31 and April 15,2004;and WHEREAS, income tax preparation is often a complicated process that usually benefits from expert tax preparation assistance;and WHEREAS,tax preparation assistance can help low-income families take advantage of federal tax benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit(FITC)and Child Tax Credit(CTC),and receive up to$4,200 in tax refunds--a significant amount for families struggling to make ends meet;and WHEREAS,there are more than 10,000 taxpayers in the county who don't claim the EI'TC benefits they are eligible for,thus missing out on approximately$8.1 million in FITC funds annually;and WHEREAS,recognizing that the significant loss of millions of dollars of tax benefits to the county's low-income families can affect their economic security,the United Way of the Bay Area,the Internal Revenue Service,First 5 Contra Costa,Contra Costa Employment&Human Services,Contra Costa Health Services and the City of Richmond/Richmond WORKS have come together to convene Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership,a public,private and non- profit collaboration that seeks to increase the income and build the assets of low-income families and individuals in the county;and WHEREAS,the Contra Costa County Family Economic Security Partnership's first initiative is Earn It! Keep It! Save It!Contra Costa,an effort to increase the claiming ofEITC,CTC and other state and federal tax credits through free tax preparation assistance,as well as to link low-income families and individuals to financial education,asset development l and other benefit programs;and WHEREAS,Earn It! Deep It! Save It! Contra Costa relies on volunteers to help low-income taxpayers fill out federal and state income tax returns and file for FITC and CTC tax benefits. The volunteers are trained by the Partnership in income tax preparation so that they can provide free tax preparation assistance in a dozen Volunteer Income'Tax Assistance(MITA) sites that the Partnership is sponsoring throughout the county; and WHEREAS,County departments,community colleges, local non-profits,churches,banks and numerous individuals are joining the Partnership and working together to reach the 2004 goal of adding$1 million to the budgets of Contra Costa's working families who,despite their participation in the workforce,are low income, NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors does hereby declare its full support for Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership and its Earn It!Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa campaign for 2004, encourage eligible residents to visit a VITA site and get free tax preparation assistance, and call on all Contra Costa cities to support the initiative and promote it among their residents. PASSED and ADOPTED :,anuary 13,2004 by a unan' vote of the Board members present. Federal . Glover,Chairman District V ✓� ;��x-e°-cam---` ` John Gioia Gayle B.Uilkema District I District II ABSENT Millie Greenberg Mark DeSaulnier District III District IV 1 hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an order entered on the Minutes of said Board of Supervisors on the aforesaid date. Witness my hand and the Seal of the Board of Supervisors affixed this I P day of January 2004, JOHN SWEETEN, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County AdminrsiLl(�,. .Deputy Clerk Contra Costa 's Fancily Economic Security Partnership i 20 Alter, Strut+Martinez,CA 94553 +►(925)370.5010 PARTNERS AARP Tax Aide j Bay Point Works Catholic Charities of the East Bay i C,mnmunity Housing j Development Corporation ' + of North Richmond Presentation Concord Community Economic Development Organization to the Contra.Costa Community Services Department Contra Costa County Greater Richmond VITA Initiative j Housing Authority of the County of Board of Supervisors Contra Costa Lao Family Community Development Inc. I Opportunities for I Technology Information Careers i 3 i January 13, 2004 SPONSORS i United Way of the Hay Area } Contra Costa j Employment&Human Services Department Contra Costa j Health Services I First 5 Contra Costa Internal Revenue 'service RichmondWORKS City of Richmond � i Imblic,private crud norrj)r«fit c(.Viaboration to iaicrease the income and build the assets of l rs-ir�cat7rc=fcnnilies and individuals living in C_'<rrrtr^a C'oqix ti>ttn t� Contra Costa's Family Economic Security Partnership MISSION The Family Economic Security Partnership is a public, private and nonprofit collaboration dedicated to increasing the income and building the assets of low-income families and individuals living in Contra Costa County. LONG-TERM GOALS 1. Create a countywide vision and strategies to better leverage community resources and enhance community collaboration in order to increase the economic security of low-income families and individuals. 2. Implement initiatives to help low-income families and individuals increase their financial knowledge, well-being and assets. GOALS FOR 2003-04 1. Successfully implement the first initiative of the Partnership: Earn It! Deep It! Save It! Contra Costa. a. Recruit and train 100 volunteers to provide free tax preparation services b. Support the operation of 13 VITA Sites c. Provide 500 people with financial education tips d. Prepare 735 returns that result in $1 million in tax refunds 2. Establish a viable, long-term structure for implementing the mission of the Partnership. i ............. _ ................ ................ _ .................... _ _. ............................. FUNDERS United Way of the Bay ,Area East Bay Community Foundation SPONSORS United Way of the Bay Area Contra Costa Employment & Human Services Department Contra Costa Health Services First 5 Contra Costa Internal Revenue Service RichmondWORKS/City of Richmond 2 ....................................:N...,::.::.::.:.:...:::::::::::::::::::.....::.::.:..:.:...:::.:::.::::::::::::::::::::::::........:....::::.:::.::::..::... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::.:........................................ PARTNERS AARP Tax Aide Bay Point Works CatholicCharities of the East Bay Community .Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond Concord Community Economic Development Organization Contra Costa Community Services Department Greater Richmond VITA Initiative Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa Lao Family Community Development Inc. Opportunities for Technology Information Careers VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT and COORDINATION Lloyd Madden, Workforce Services Specialist Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Paul Ward, Planning and Organizational Development Analyst Contra Costa County Employment& Human Services ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED in VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT Los Medanos College Contra Costa College Diablo 'Talley College Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Contra Costa Health Services TRAINING DESIGNER Jane Fujii, Senior Tax Specialist Internal Revenue Service VOLUNTEER TRAINERS Marilyn Langlois, Volunteer Tax Aide Trainer Community Member Robert TeVrucht, Senior Social Services Information Systems Analyst Employment& Human Services Department Tim Murphy, CPA, Faculty Instructor-Business and Chair, Curriculum Committee Diablo Valley College Nancy Fix, M.I.B. , J.D. San ,lose Investment Academy 5 WORD GROUPS Asset-Development Marketing & Outreach VITA Site Support Partnership Coordination/Fund Development 6 Asset Development Work Group Coordinator. Erin Terhorst Program Associate Health & Self Sufficiency United Way of the Bay Area Regina Davis, Housing Manager, Family Self Sufficiency Program Housing Authority of Contra Costa County Eva Garcia, Project Manager Bay Point Works Alex Gomez, Executive Director West Contra Costa Business Development Center Jacqui Gordon, Community Affairs Specialist Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs/FDIC Gabriel Remus, CDBG Planner Contra Costa Community Development Department Jim Prater, Deputy Director Community Development and Planning Division/HUD Erwin Reeves, Vice President The Mechanics Bank Pam Salsedo, Consultant for the CC IDA Coalition Asset Building & Community Development Consulting Melanie Tom, IDA Program Associate, Americorps Community Development Housing Corporation of North Richmond Barbara Williams, Director C.H.R.I.S.T. Ministry School 7 .............................. ...................... ..................... ........................................ . .................. -Mair keting & Outreach Work Group Coordinator: Fran Bilderman Training and Support Project Coordinator First 5 Contra Costa Liz Callahan, Director Contra Costa County Contractors'Alliance Regina Davis, Housing Manager, Family Self Sufficiency Program Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa Julie Freestone, Communications Officer Contra Costa Health Services Nina Goldman, Program Manager Contra Costa Service Integration Program Tracy Irwin, Public Affairs Manager First 5 Contra Costa Shirley Llanos-Clayton, ASAII Community Services Department Lloyd Madden, Workforce Services Specialist Employment & Human Services Department Jimmy Prater, Deputy Director Community Development and Planning Division/HUD Delphine Smith, Service Coordinator Eden Housing Resident Services Paul Ward, Planning and Organizational Development Analyst Employment& Human Services Department Lynn Yaney, Public Information Officer Employment& Human Services Department 8 ....................... ................................. ....................- VITA Site Support Work Group Coordinato : Nina Goldman Program Manager, Contra Costa Service Integration Program Barbara Badow, Training Specialist AARP Tax-Aide Program Fran Biderman, Training and Support Project Coordinator First 5 Contra Costa. Patrick Brown, SPEC Internal Revenue Service Regina Davis, Housing Manager, Family Self Sufficiency Program/ VITA Site Coordinator Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa Faith DuBois, Assistant Vice President United Way of the Bay Area Robyn Faraone, Program Officer, Self-Sufficiency United Way of the Bay Area Antonia Ford, VITA Site Coordinator Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Jane Fujii, Senior Tax Specialist Internal Revenue Service Eva Garcia, Project ManagerNITA Site Coordinator Bay Point Works Salvador Godines, VITA Site Coordinator RichmondWORKS Laura Godines-Avalos, VITA Site Coordinator RichmondWORKS Jesse Golden, Program Director, Delta CTCNITA Site Coordinator Opportunities for Technology Information Careers Fletcher Haley, VITA Site Coordinator First Baptist Church of Pittsburg Opal Hampton, Tax Specialist Internal Revenue Service 9 ................................................I................................... ................................. Stacy Hart, VITA Site Coordinator Concord One-Stop/Concord Community and Economic Development Organization Alana Hogan, Program Analyst Contra Costa County Employment& Human Services Lynda Kilday, Public Education and Advocacy Contra Costa Child Care Council Marilyn Langlois, Volunteer Tax Aide Trainer AARP Tax-Aide Contra Costa County Bob Lanter, Executive Director Contra Costa County Workforce Investment Board Lloyd Madden, Workforce Services Specialist Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department Robert Martinez, PastorNITA Site Coordinator Freedom Christian Fellowship Ministries Don Metz, State Coordinator—Californian AARP Tax Aide Program Jennie Mollica, Associate Director Lao Family Community Development Benjamin Mosley, One-Stop Operations Manager Workforce Development Board Helen Nichols, VITA Site Coordinator RichmondWORKS Newin Orante, Director of Extended Opportunities, Programs and Services/CalWORKS Los Medanos College Xiao Pena, Computer Lab Coordinator Contra Costa College Tina Joy Pitt, Dean, Business, Social Sciences and Applied Tech. Contra Costa College Jimmy Prater, Deputy Director Community Development and Planning Division — HUD Katherine Punsalang, Career Center Coordinator Bay Point Works 10 .............. ............ Lisa Rafter, Site Coordinator Catholic Charities of the East Bay/English Action Center Raquel'`Ramirez, VITA Site Coordinator Brentwood One-Stop Canter Meuy Saechao, VITA Site Coordinator/San Pablo One-Stop Lace Family Community Development Meyian Saeteurn, VITA Site Coordinator Catholic Charities of the East Bay Brenda Sharp, Pastor St. Peter CME Church Delphine Smith, Service Coordinator/VITA Site Coordinator Eden Housing Resident Services/Community Heritage Senior Housing Marilyn Tate, VITA Site Coordinator Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Monique Thibeaux, VITA Site Coordinator Brentwood One-Stop Center Deborah Torres, Tax Specialist/VITA Site Coordinator Internal Revenue Service/St. Anthony's Catholic Church Stacey Urbina, Assistant Project Manager Bay Point Works Paul Ward, Planning and Organizational Development Analyst Contra Costa County Employment& Human Services Barbara J. Williams,.Director C.H.R.I.S.T. Ministry School Cassandra Youngblood, ASA III, Family& Community Partnerships Centra Costa County Community Services Department Partnership Coordination/Fund Development Carole Watson, Chief Investment Officer, Self Sufficiency United Way of the Bay Area Robyn Faraone, Program Officer, Self Sufficiency United Way of the Say Area Mary Foran, Associate Director Contra Costa Health Services Michele Garbers, Secretary Contra Costa Health Services 12 VITA Sites N # SIrIEECoo RUTION SITE Ct3PRM NATOR v A BITE woW. R PROVIDE SY NAME Site Far East Contra Costa: EASTBAY Works One Stop Raquel Ramirez ✓ Business and Career Center, Independent Volunteers Monique Thibeaux Brentwood St. Anthony's Catholic Church Internal Revenue Service Deb Torres Volunteer East Contra Costa: , Opportunities for Technology Opportunities for Technology Jesse Golden Information Careers Information Careers Bay Point Works Contra Costa Employment& Eva Garcia Human Services First Baptist Church First Baptist Church Fletcher Haley Central Contra Crista: EASTBAY Works One Stop Concord Community and ✓ Business and Career Center, Economic Development Stacy Hart Concord Organization ✓ Housing Authority of the County Housing Authority of the County Regina Davis of contra Costa of contra Costa West Contra Costa: EASTBAY Works One Stop Lao Family Community Meuy Saechao ✓ Business and Career Center, Development San Pablo Community Heritage Senior Community Heritage Senior Delphine Smith Housing Housing RichmondWORKS/City of RichmondWORKSICity of Helen Nichols Richmond Richmond Salvador Godinez Laura Godinez ✓ Freedom Christian Fellowship Freedom Christian Fellowship Robert Martinez Ministries Ministries ✓ Catholic Charities of the East Catholic Charities of the East Meyian Saeteum Bay Bay Mt.Zion Missionary Baptist Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Antonia Ford Church Church Marilyn Tate 13 4 ..... .. ..... .... ..... ...... ... ..... < I 4" .z rv' `e. Y : y s r Yx { F V ' F, '' t 'S� 4 ,�" q c, .✓^ L t { H n Y g; pz+ Earned Income You may qualify Claim the Child Tax Credit for the FITC if; Tax Credit, too! You can claim the Earned Income • You were raising two or more If you have children, you may Tax Credit (EITC). It is a tax children and earned less than y also qualify for the federal Child benefit for people who work. If $33,692 ($34,692 if married). Tax Credit—which provides up you qualify, the EITC will reduce • You were raising one child and to $1,000 for each dependent your taxes and could give you earned less than $29,666 ($30,666 child under age 17. back up to$4,204. if married). The locations of the FREE VITA home in 200033, earned less than Even if you don't owe income tax, • You had children your tax preparation sites are listed on you can get the EITC. $11,230 ($12,230 if married) and the back. Call (800) 358-8832 were between 25 and 64 years old. for more information. ep is �vEarn it ! Ke * tf Se t . Contra Costa A project of the Family Economic Security Partnership CET FREE TAX. HELD GET MONEY BACK. From January 31st until April 15th,Volunteer Income Status Maximum Possible Tax Assistance(VITA)Centers across Contra Costa Earnings Cash Beck County will be providing free tax assistance and language Single $11,230 $382 interpreters to help you file your taxes. No Children When you go to it free tax assistance site,bring the Married $12,230 $382 following things with you: No Children Unmarried $29,666 $2,547 * Social Security card or photocopy of it for each family 1 Child member(or ITIN number for the working adult) Married $30,666 $2,547 • W-2 forms for all jobs i child Unmarried $33,692 $4,204 • All 1099 forms and other income forms 2+Children • Child Care provider information Married $34,692 $4,204 2+Children For general information or translation services call (800) 358-8832. Or visit the website: www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org The VITA Centers are listed below. Brentwood One Stop First Baptist Church Freedom Christian 929 2nd Street 224 Linda Vista Street Fellowship Ministries Brentwood,CA 94513 Pittsburg,CA 94565 3750 San Pablo Dam Road Hours: 9 am to 1 pm Hours: 10 am to 2 pm El Sobrante,CA 94803 Saturdays: 2/14, 2/28,3/13, Saturdays: 2/14, 2/28,3/13 Hours: Saturdays:8 am to l I,am 3/27&4/10 3/27, 4/3 &4/10 Mondays.4 pru to 7 pm Feb. 7 to April 10 St. Anthony's Concord One Stop Catholic Church 1875 Willow Pass Road Mt. Zion Missionary 971 O'Hara Avenue Concord,CA 94.520 Baptist Church Oakley,CA 94561 Hours: Saturdays:9 am to 6 pm 235 Fifth Street Hours: Call(510)637-2482 Feb. I to April 14 Richmond,CA 94801 Hours: Saturdays: 10 am to 4 pm OPTIC Housing Authority Jan.31 to April 10 3102 Delta Fair Boulevard 1805 An-told Drive Call: (510)236-1054 Antioch,CA 94509 Martinez,CA 94553 Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm Hours: Thursdays:6 pm to 9 pm Community Heritage Saturdays: 1/31, 2/7,3/27 From Feb.5 to April 8 Senior Housing 4/3&4/10 Saturdays: 9 am to 1 pm 2/7,3j6,4/3&4/10 1555 Third Street North Richmond,CA 94801 Bay Point Works Hours: Saturdays; 10 am to 4 pm 3105 Willow Pass Road San Pablo One Stop Jan. 17 to April 10 Bay Point,CA 94565 2300 EI Portal Drive,Suite B (Except Feb.28 and Mar.27: Hours: Make appointment: San Pablo,CA 94806 12 to 4 pm)Call (510) 41.2-0580 (925)427.8391 Hours: 6 pin to 9 pm Open:Feb. 2 to April 14 Tuesdays,Wednesdays&Thursdays: Catholic Charities/ Drop-in"Super Saturday" Feb. 1 to April 14 2/21,9 am to 2 pm English Action Center RichmondWorks 2369 Barrett Avenue 330 25th Street Richmond,CA 94804 Richmond,CA 94804 Hours: Call (510) 234-511.0 Hours: 10 am to 2 pm Saturdays:Feb. 6 to April 10 ,., :,