Today is Tax Day. As many people rush to file their returns, there are a few who can't afford to have someone file their returns for them. That's why the United Way of Washtenaw County formed the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. UWWC representatives Andrew Johnson and Patrick Helman talk all about the VITA program with WEMU's David Fair in this week's "Washtenaw United."
WEMU has partnered with the United Way of Washtenaw Countyto explore the people, organizations, and institutions creating opportunity and equity in our area. And, as part of this ongoing series, you’ll also hear from the people benefiting and growing from the investments being made in the areas of our community where there are gaps in available services. It is a community voice. It is 'Washtenaw United.'
About the Guests:
Andrew Johnson, Financial Stability Manager, United Way of Washtenaw County
Our new Financial Stability Manager has a wealth of information for tax season. Andrew Johnson works hard to help taxpayers in our community find free and easy ways to get taxes filed before the deadline. Johnson manages the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program for those who qualify for free tax preparation. He also leads the training for the VITA volunteers. We appreciate his efforts and his time, as he answered our questions and gathered several tips to help us all prepare for tax season.
Patrick Helman, AmeriCorps Member, United Way of Washtenaw County
Patrick Helman has been a vital addition to the United Way team and our free tax preparation program, VITA. Patrick, who has an engineering background, decided to commit to a year of community service as he considers his next career move. Patrick’s commitment to United Way began long before his term as an AmeriCorps member—he has been a VITA volunteer for more than two years. We were thrilled that Patrick applied to serve with United Way and bring his engineering expertise to bear on this important community program.
“Volunteering and advocating are some of the ways to get involved in your community. Sharing the great work nonprofits in our community are accomplishing is important” says Patrick.
Helman currently supports the VITA program its volunteers, facilitates financial education workshops, and just planned and executed our recent financial education fair, “Show Me the Money Day”, at the Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business.
Data Points:
39% of people in Washtenaw County live in poverty or struggle to meet their family’s basic needs for housing, transportation, childcare, health care, and food. Federal Poverty Level is $11,770 for a single adult and $24,250 for a family of four. 12% of people in our county fall below the poverty line. Median household income in Washtenaw County is $70,286. According to a recent report published by the Michigan Association of United Ways, nearly 27% of County residents are asset limited, income constrained and employed, meaning that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county.
- According to a recent report by the Center for Responsible Lending, in our County, we have 12 payday stores which annually drain over 2M in fees from consumers, the majority of whom have low incomes, are people of color, and reside in 48197/98. The maxim “it costs more to be poor” has never been more evident than in how payday lenders target financially vulnerable people—a map search shows these 12 stores are concentrated on the east side. In Michigan, payday lenders can charge fees reaching over 340% annual percentage rate (APR) on a two-week loan
Access to quality and affordable health care has a direct correlation to improved financial wellbeing. According to a recent study on the Healthy Michigan program, enrollment was associated with large improvements in several measures of financial health, including reductions in unpaid bills, medical bills, over limit credit card spending, delinquencies, and public records (such as evictions, judgments, and bankruptcies). Because people were in less financial stress health wise, they didn’t overdraw their credit cards and they paid bills on time.
Over the past decade, research has demonstrated the direct, linear, and negative relationship between financial stress and health. Working Americans cite money as their #1 worry, followed by family health (#3) and personal health (#5). Yet few indicate healthy habits: only 26% eat well; just 26% exercise; and only 10% participate in employee assistance programs designed to help with emotional wellness and work-life balance (Guardian's 4th Annual Workplace Benefit Study). Not surprisingly, adults with lower incomes experience financial stress more acutely, and those who experience high levels of stress related to their finances are more likely to cope by smoking, eating, drinking alcohol, and watching television in excess, all of which increase their risk for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Free Tax Preparation Program Impact Snapshot, FY18
United Way of Washtenaw County provides free tax preparation services to individuals and families with low-incomes, allowing them to receive the maximum refund possible, to meet their own pressing basic needs or save for the future.
Our Impact: By the Numbers
1,005: Number of free tax returns filed
$1.3 million: Total in tax returns and credits
returned to Washtenaw County
$1,718: Average tax refund amount
$282,000: Total amount saved by participants by
using our free service*
Why This MattersOur tax program ensures that people get the maximum refund they are due without having to pay expensive tax prep fees or be subject to predatory refund-anticipation loans. This bolsters individual financial stability within our community and injects more dollars back into Washtenaw County businesses.
*Calculated using average cost of filing a tax return at a paid preparer: $250
Our Impact: Participant Profile
$18,000: Tax program participants average income
50%: Participants that identify as Caucasian/White*
34%: Participants that identify as AfricanAmerican/Black*
4.6%: Participants that identify as Asian*
2.5%: Participants that identify as Arab*
47: Average age of tax program participant
*Calculated based on number of participants that provided data.
Why This MattersAccording to United Way’s ALICE report, 37% of Washtenaw County residents are Asset Limited, Income
Constrained, Employed. More than half (56%) of these ALICE community members reside in Ypsilanti. This is why our financial stability work focuses largely onsupporting agencies and individuals in the Ypsilanti Community.
Resources:
- UWWC Equity Policy
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- Eastern Michigan University Students Assist With Tax Preparation For Low Income Residents
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
