Surplus computers for nonprofits
AidMatrix, an international relief agency providing surplus goods to the third world, has partnered with FedEx/Kinkos to make surplus computers available to nonprofits. Please note that the computers are provided as-is, without software or operating systems. Organizations will be responsible for a small handling fee and will have to pick up the items.
To participate in the program go to http://aidmatrix.org/hardwareinventory/ and locate items near you, then enter contact information and the quantities of each item you would like to receive.
back to top
Cleveland taxpayers use refunds to pay bills
During the tax filing season, Policy Matters Ohio distributed a survey to more than 1,000 low-income taxpayers at Cuyahoga (Cleveland) VITA sites.
Survey findings include:
- Filers said they would use their refunds toward basic needs purchases in the community such as
- household bills (47%), savings (22%), housing (19%), food (17%), and clothing (12%).
- More than 20% of filers this year reported getting their taxes done at a paid preparer last year and
- 45% had done so in previous years.
- Roughly 65% of those who received free tax preparation did not report receiving public assistance like Medicaid (13%) or Unemployment Insurance (2%).
Most respondents said that the service being free motivated them to use a VITA site.
The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition filed more than 3,444 tax returns with nearly half qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Coalition returned more than $4.2 million in total refunds. This is a 50% increase in the number of returns and more than 60% increase in the amount refunded to families from last year.
back to top
Michigan creates state EITC
Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation that creates a state Earned Income Tax Credit on September 22. The refundable credit will be set at 10 percent in 2008 and will increase to 20 percent in 2009. Michigan becomes the 21st state, including the District of Columbia, to enact a state EITC.
Help for municipal leaders supporting asset building
The National League of Cities have recently launched Phase II of their Cities Helping Families Build Assets Project with six of the cities that were a part of Phase I of the project. The project aims to help municipal leaders build capacity to develop and support asset-building initiatives that are designed to help low-income families. The cities chosen for phase two of the project are:
- Burlington, Vt.
- Itta Bena, Miss.
- Louisville , Ky.
- Orlando , Fla.
- Savannah , Ga.
- Seattle , Wash.
back to top
