| National Housing Law
Project
Housing Law Bulletin |
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Outreach Campaign to Boost Utilization
of the Earned Income Tax Credit
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
is conducting an outreach campaign to inform homeless
persons that they may be eligible to receive the Earned
Income Tax Credit (EITC). Those who are eligible for the
EITC must have worked at some point during 1996. Because
studies show that up to 39 percent of homeless individuals
work, advocates for homeless and other low-income people
are encouraged to help their clients file for the credit.
Individuals without children who earned less than $9,500 may
be eligible for a refund up to $323. Individuals with one
child who earned less than $25,078 may be eligible for a
refund of up to $2,152. Individuals with two or more children
who earned less than $28,495 may be eligible for a refund of
up to $3,556.
As part of the campaign, the Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty has created a packet to help nonprofits to educate their clients. The packet addresses such issues as who is eligible and how the credit will be affected by the welfare revisions. The packet also contains a list of free tax assistance clinic phone numbers and other agencies that will be able to answer specific questions about the EITC.
The tax credit can be vital to working homeless and low-income people, but only if they know that it is available and how to apply for it. Nonprofits can assist applicants in filing for the credit through one-on-one and group assistance, as well as by making referrals to other available tax assistance programs.
The packet is free of charge. Please direct orders to:
Antonia Fasanelli
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
918 "F" Street, N.W., #412
Washington, DC 20004
Tel. (202) 638-2535
Fax (202) 628-2737
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