IMPORTANT UPDATES from our Community Engagement Department…
Community Action’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Clinic continues to provide virtual tax preparation services to eligible low-income households as the July 15 deadline to file federal and state tax returns approaches. As our VITA clinic is currently the only one listed on the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s website, Community Engagement staff have been required to field an unusually high volume of calls, while providing referrals and support to taxpayers throughout Minnesota, regardless of annual income. To determine your eligibility for our VITA clinic, please call (651) 603-5884 to schedule an appointment. Our VITA tax preparers will assist participants as they prepare their own returns utilizing myfreetaxes.com.
In addition, our Money Smart program (formerly known as Financial Literacy) is offering webinars on Wednesday, July 22, and Wednesday, July 29, from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm each afternoon. To register for either of free these webinars, please visit us at:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6308578114105679885
The Money Smart curriculum is designed to provide participants with real-world information, new skills and knowledge, and important resources to help manage money, establish good credit, and build assets with confidence. For questions or additional information on our Money Smart workshops, please contact Beth Kleiter at (651) 603-5855 or via email at bkleiter@caprw.org.
And, on a final note, Community Engagement’s Car Repair Grant program has recently approved 15 new households with many more being served at various stages of the application process. This program helps reduce the cost burden of transportation by assisting those in need of general automobile maintenance or repairs. This initiative provides a one-time grant of up to $750 per household. Upon approval, grant recipients must provide an estimate from their preferred auto service center/mechanic and pay for the estimate. Car Repair grants are paid directly to the vendor who makes the repairs/performs the maintenance.
TO APPLY for this program, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a valid MN Driver’s License
- Proof of Car Insurance
- Live in Ramsey or Washington County
- Meet Income Eligibility Guidelines (annual gross salary equal to or less than state income guidelines based on household size of 200% of the federal poverty guidelines)
For more information about Community Action’s Car Repair Program, please call us at 651-603-5880 and select option # 5. And, to learn more about the Car Ownership Program, call that same number or visit us online at https://caprw.org/services/money-jobs-transportation/car-ownership.html.
