Charlotte, North Carolina
Contact Information
If you, your business, or organization are interested in becoming a part of the Disability Initiative Workgroup, please contact
Brenda Williams of Family Financial Literacy Coalition/Community Link at [email protected].
If you are already a member of the Disability Initiative Workgroup and have questions regarding the IRS participation, then please contact
Margaret Umlauf at [email protected].
Disability Initiative Workgroup Members
The
Family Financial Literacy Coalition (FFLC) consists of over 30 representatives from the nonprofit, government, and business sectors working together to increase financial stability among low income families. The Disability Connections Committee supports the expansion of all FFLC services to persons with disabilities. Partnerships were expanded in 2008 from 10 to 17 organizations:
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Bank of America Disability Affinity Group
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Community Link
Disability Program Navigators
Disability Rights & Resources
Division of Services for the Blind
Easter Seals UCP
First In Families
Go Direct |
Goodwill Industries
IRS
Mecklenburg County Health Department
Metrolina Association for the Blind
NC Division of Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
The Arc of Mecklenburg County
Vocational Rehabilitation
Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) |
In the 2008 filing season, the FFLC successfully opened a VITA site at Disability Rights and Resources (DRR) to target persons with disabilities. A total of 67 tax returns were prepared at this site. To kickoff the tax filing season, the FFLC held a Financial Literacy event at the Vocational Rehabilitation offices. Participants were able to obtain information about money/debt management, job placement, supportive housing and homeownership. They were able to review their credit reports with a financial planner to discuss strategies to improve their credit score. For all 13 FFLC tax sites, the total number of customers identifying themselves or someone in their household as disabled increased from 232 last year to 337 in the 2008 filing season (45% increase).
For the 2009 filing season, the FFLC will expand free tax preparation services into “mobile tax services.” DRR will serve as a VITA site for 1 day a week during the tax season. Additionally, we will partner with the Bank of America Disability Affinity Group to provide 4 mobile tax preparation sessions at partner agencies throughout the county: Goodwill Industries, the JobLink Career Center, and the Main Public Library of Charlotte (2 sessions). Volunteers with the Bank of America Disability Affinity Group will serve as Tax Preparers and Asset Building Coaches on these dates.
During 1 of the 4 sessions we will host a Financial Literacy Fair. In addition to having their taxes prepared, customers will be able meet with representatives from various agencies. Vendors will include agencies that provide services and information specifically for persons with disabilities as well as other partners that provide credit/debt counseling, job placement services, homeownership education, low or no-cost banking products, etc.
The FFLC will also launch the Deaf Tax pilot project. The Latin American Coalition, serving as a VITA site in the 2009 filing season, will host the Deaf Tax pilot project. The site will be open on Saturday and Sunday 1pm – 6pm.