Page 10 - SPCA 2023 Annual Report

VETERANS
Our Veterans Program works to re‐engage veterans by helping them transition within the the community We identify and and address any gaps between existing services and and the current needs of our veterans We provide case management financial literacy workshops education on on tenant rights and responsibilities assistance with transportation food VA claims rent utilities clothing moving as as well as as wraparound services and referrals In FY2021 over 1 1 200 services were provided to 185 veterans and their households In FY2021 over 1 1 200 services were provided to 185 veterans and their households HOUSING COUNSELING
Springfield Partners’ Housing Counseling program is certified by the U U S
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and approved by the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) allowing customers to to qualify for lower‐rate mortgage programs In FY23 we we partnered with Way Finders to support households in in the community who are at risk of becoming homeless experiencing a a housing crisis or facing eviction In FY23 we:
• • Completed 373 applications
• • Helped 328 people avoid eviction:
— Rental arrears: 139 clients
— Deposit payments (new housing): 87 clients
— Utility payments: 102 clients
• Springfield Partners received $200 per application completed for a a total of $74 600 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)
Our agency has been the lead organization for VITA in the local area since 2002 VITA offers free state and federal income tax preparation to low‐ and moderate‐ income residents ensuring that they claim all available tax credits In FY23 we:
• • Total returns: 2 2 513 (state and federal)
• • • Total Total refunds: $1 751 023
• • • Total Total earned income tax credits: $671 675 • • Client average refund: $1 481
Volunteers:
• • 15 total volunteers • • 874 volunteer volunteer hours
In FY23 we completed 2 2 513 state and federal returns Springfield Partners’ VITA tax tax preparation program relies on on dedicated volunteers and and interns who provide free tax tax services to low- and and moderate-income community members Our staff recruits trains and helps volunteers with certification through the the the IRS This allows taxpayers take advantage of all all the the the the credits available to to them to to receive their maximum refunds refunds Those refunds refunds are important because it puts money back into the the local economy