FINANCIAL STABILITY

United Way’s Financial Stability programs support hard-working, low-wage earners in our community from Career to Retirement. Programs and partnerships are focused on improving employment and financial security for life-long well-being.

The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation to households earning up to $66,000. The Siemer Family Stability Program in partnership with Our Family Services and the Siemer Institute, seeks to help families in crisis stabilize and position themselves to improve their quality of life. Prosperity in Schools, in partnership with the Community Schools Initiative, Higher Ground, and AmeriCorps, helps connect families to human service resources in the community.

• $25.3 Million in Federal refunds returned to Arizona residents, including $11 million in Earned Income Tax Credit
• 16,875 tax returns completed by 450 volunteers in 10 Arizona counties
• 550 families became more financially stable
• 23 families avoided eviction or obtained affordable housing

MEET SUSAN

Each year, the VITA program helps thousands of Southern Arizonans put money back into their wallets and, in turn, back into our economy. This program is led by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in collaboration with Catholic Community Services, United Way of Yuma County, United Way of Pinal County, and United Way of Northern Arizona. Together, the collaborative is the largest tax preparer in the state of Arizona, serving ten of Arizona’s fifteen counties.

Susan is a teacher and a single mother of two young boys. Last year, a co-worker told her about the VITA service offered by United Way. As a teacher, she is part of the majority of Southern Arizonans who make less than the $66,000 income cap to use VITA. Thanks to the help of her IRS-certified, volunteer VITA tax preparer, she received credits for which she didn’t even know she was eligible. Through VITA, Susan received both the Child Tax Credit and the Earned In-come Tax Credit, which resulted in a $6,870 refund check! Susan tells us that this is more than she makes in two months. She used her refund to pay off some of her student loans and credit card debt. She was also able to put some money into savings for emergencies and to help fund her children’s college education.