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Community Action e-news - March 2023

Montgomery County Maryland sent this bulletin at 03/31/2023 03:17 PM EDT

E-Newsletter: March 2023

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency

IRS Deputy Commissioner Visits VITA Program

Deputy Commissioner of IRS with group of visitors to VITA program

On March 30, IRS Deputy Commissioner Douglas O'Donnell visited the Montgomery County Community Action Agency's (CAA) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at WorkSource Montgomery's American Job Center in Wheaton and was joined by colleagues from WorkSource Montgomery and the Maryland Department of Labor, VITA partners, and by representatives from the IRS. Jewru Bandeh, director of the Montgomery County Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, represented County Executive Marc Elrich at the event. Anthony Featherstone, executive director of WorkSource Montgomery noted that the co-location of VITA at the Wheaton site not only connects residents with multiple needs to employment services and free tax help, but also to the array of supportive services delivered by the range of partners collaborating with both agencies, including the United Way of the National Capital Area and its Financial Empowerment Center.

Pictured above are, left to right, Barbara Ebel, Maryland Department of Labor; Francesca Jean Baptiste, CASH Campaign of Maryland; Jacqueline Acevedo, Maryland Department of Labor; Douglas O'Donnell, Deputy Commissioner, IRS; Sharon Strauss, Community Action Agency; Edwige Tebou, The Equity Center (VITA); Taunya Johnson, Community Action Agency; Anita Carter, Senior Relationship Tax Consultant, IRS; Jewru Bandeh, Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center; and Rachael Browning, Maryland Department of Labor. Also attending but not pictured were Lillie Williams, IRS, and Stephanie Crane, United Way of the National Capital Area.

After touring the VITA program to observe its team of dedicated volunteers and staff delivering services, the group discussed opportunities to better meet the needs of underserved communities seeking tax help and models of outreach to promote better access to the Earned Income Tax Credit, and to assure accuracy. Together, the partners and visitors considered both the challenges of scaling VITA to serve additional residents, as well as opportunities to expand access. Francesca Jean Baptiste, director of Tax Partnerships with the CASH Campaign of Maryland, shared the model of paid work experience of "Community Fellows," which pairs upper-level undergraduate college students and graduate-level students with Community Action VITA sites, increasing capacity and creating a specialized workforce trained in tax preparation as well as community outreach. CAA helped to pilot the Community Fellows program in 2009 and continues to participate, with Mikayla Graham serving currently in the program. Past Community Fellows at Community Action's VITA program include Eduardo Mendes, now a CAA Program Specialist co-coordinating VITA with Program Specialist Taunya Johnson, and Benoit Codjia, now a contractor with CAA's VITA program. Benoit and Eduardo are pictured below.

As yesterday's visit wrapped up, the group agreed that it would be valuable to continue conversations to work together to strengthen VITA locally, in Maryland and nationally.

Although the tax season is not yet over, Community Action's VITA program has in FY23 connected 1,467 lower income households with almost $4.9 million dollars in federal and Maryland refunds and credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, and Montgomery County's Working Families Income Supplement.

CAA VITA appointments are full for this season; taxpayers may call the VITA line at 240-777-1123 to ask if there are last minute openings due to cancellations, and visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/CASHBACK to consider free tax help through our VITA partners.

Following the tax season, CAA will resume tax preparation in June, preparing taxes for County residents who did not file in the 2022, 2021 or 2020 tax years, or who need assistance filing an amended return.

VITA Recognition & Outreach

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, of Maryland’s 8^thCongressional District, recently recognized the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program as a “hometown hero”! Watch the clip on Rep. Raskin’s YouTube channel. Thank you to Community Action’s VITA Program Specialist, Taunya Johnson-Oates, and volunteers Chiali Tsai and Jeffrey Komarow for representing the VITA program and the many hard-working volunteers!

VITA was also featured on the March 15 episode of Montgomery al Día, where Lorna Virgili interviewed Community Action’s VITA Program Specialist Eduardo Mendes and Community Action Board member Lisette Orellana Engel. Montgomery al Día brings interviews, news, public service announcements (PSAs), and public call-ins to Montgomery County’s Hispanic population.

Board Continues to Advocate for Numerous Bills in Annapolis

The Community Action Board (CAB) continues its extensive advocacy work as the 2023 Maryland Legislative Session wraps up. The CAB had a very busy session, submitting testimony in support of eighteen bills. Legislation that the CAB supported addressed a wide range of important issues impacting lower-income residents, including food and nutrition programs, the MD Earned Income Tax Credit, streamlining the application process for many critical services, and addressing the teacher shortage in early childhood education by expanding opportunities for preschool teacher certification.

At the request of Delegate Kym Taylor, CAB Chair, Dr. Jeffery Johnson, testified in support of HB1050 - Access to Counsel in Evictions – Funding, on March 7. CAB supported the initial access to counsel bill last year. HB1050/SB756 would go a step further by requiring funding for the legal services program for those facing eviction.

Advocacy Program Participants Develop Original Testimony

Community Advocacy Institute participants at County Council

On March 4, Community Advocacy Institute (CAI) participants met at the County Council Building for a testimony practice session. Participants shared their original testimony and received feedback from a mock County Council, which included board members, Community Action staff, and actual County Councilmember, Laurie-Anne Sayles! Testimony covered a wide range of topics, including affordable housing, afterschool programs, mental health services, and racial equity training for MCPS.

A second practice session was held online on March 25. Participants had a second opportunity to share their testimony, incorporating the feedback they received earlier in the month. The session also included a panel discussion with five CAI graduates. Participants must now complete their advocacy projects in order to graduate from the CAI. Projects include submitting written testimony to the County Council, testifying before the County Council at a budget hearing, or submitting testimony to the Board of Education.

Tax Tips from VITA: Documents for Filing; Options for Paying Tax Bills

What to do when a W-2 or Form 1099 is missing or incorrect:

It's important for taxpayers to have all their documents and information so they can file an accurate and complete tax return. This may mean waiting to file until they receive all their documentation – and it can also mean following up on missing or incorrect documents.

Most taxpayers should have received income documents near the end of January. For tips on which documents are necessary, how to get document replacements, and more, visit IRS Tax Tip 2023-25 through the above link.

Options for taxpayers with a tax bill they can’t pay:

Learn about payment plans, offers in compromise, penalty relief, and possible penalties and interest at the above link to IRS Tax Tip 2023-35.

Save the Date: Father’s Day Event for Head Start

On Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Head Start program will host a “Party in the Park” at Wheaton Regional Park. In collaboration with HOC Fatherhood Initiative, we will have a fun-filled day of wellness activities for fathers, children and other family members. Pre-kindergarten/Head Start registration will be available on-site.

Pre-kindergarten and Head Start eligibility is based on family income. The registration process for both Head Start and Pre-kindergarten is the same, and both have half-day and full-day classes.

Head Start/Pre-K registration fliers are available in: English, Spanish, Amharic, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.

Fliers in English and Spanish direct parents and guardians to one link if they are new to MCPS, and another if they already have a child attending MCPS.

Applications are accepted online via https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org and in-person at Rocking Horse Road Center, 4910 Macon Road, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Do you have questions about Head Start? Check out the Common Questions online.

Community Action Mourns Two Losses

The Community Action Board and staff were shocked and saddened to learn of two losses in our community this month. Joni Washington, a current Community Advocacy Institute participant, passed on March 24. Joni, pictured above, was an enthusiastic member of the 2022 - 2023 cohort and was looking forward to completing her advocacy project and graduating from the CAI in May. Her testimony requested more funding for before and after school programs, a topic about which Joni was very passionate. Community Action extends its deepest condolences to Joni’s husband Jeff, her family, and friends.

Walter X. Woods III, pictured below, was a Head Start and Spanish immersion student at Rolling Terrace Elementary School and a 2021 graduate of Montgomery Blair High School. Walter was the son of Walter Woods, Jr., a former Community Action Board member and Head Start Policy Council member, and Sherron Allen-Woods. Very sadly, Walter passed away suddenly on March 7, 2023. Walter had been a trained mediator within Montgomery County Public Schools, a First Class Scout in Boy Scouts Troop 209, and a competitive recreational soccer and basketball team player. In 2023, Walter enrolled in Bowie State University. Community Action extends its deepest condolences to Walter's parents, extended family, and friends.

Montgomery County
Community Action Agency
1401 Rockville Pike, 3rd Floor
Rockville, MD 20852
240-777-1697

Did you know?

With IRS-certified volunteers and staff, VITA sites provide high-quality services. A recent IRS site visit found the accuracy rate at Community Action's Rockville site to be 94.5%!

Community Action Contract Partner News: Office of Grants Management & MCAP Conference

The Contract Monitors of Community Action encourage nonprofit organizations to investigate the grant opportunities available from the Montgomery County Office of Grants Management. The grants application platform is: https://mcmdgrants.smapply.org.

The Maryland Community Action Partnership will hold its annual conference in Bethesda, May 2 – 5. The theme this year is Redefining Possibilities: Strengthening Families & Communities. Find out more about how to sponsor, exhibit, or register for the conference on the MCAP website.

The Maryland Community Action Partnership, founded in 1986, brings together the nineteen Community Action Agencies serving low-income residents of Delaware, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. Find out more at https://maryland-cap.org.

Two opportunities to join the Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience

The mission of the Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) is to develop and implement interagency investment, policy, and operational strategies to build a more equitable, efficient, resilient, and sustainable food system in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County government created the OFSR this fiscal year in order to streamline and coordinate the County’s efforts to address local food system challenges. Two new job opportunities with the OFSR were just posted: 1) a Performance Management Data Analyst focused on the collection, analysis, and communication of local food systems data, and 2), a Program Manager focused on public and private partner engagement and policy and programmatic initiatives. Initial review of applications will begin on April 7th, with the positions open until filled.

Through fostering public-private partnerships with the community to create systems change, the OFSR will expand upon the County Government's investments in ensuring equitable and dignified access to nutritious, culturally diverse foods for all residents and harness the unique strengths of community, business, nonprofit and government partners to enhance the health of our people, our economy, and our natural resources.

Green Tips: Donating & Recycling Textiles

Spring is in the air! For many people this is a season of deep cleaning their homes, including getting rid of items they no longer need. If you’re getting rid of textiles, please consider donating reusable items. Textiles include clothing, belts, shoes and sneakers, purses and pocketbooks, linens such as towels, sheets, blankets, bedspreads, comforters, rugs and carpets. Items that can be reused may be accepted at charities or taken to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station. Carpet padding can be taken to DC Foam Recycle Center, 3761 Commerce Drive, Suite 406, Baltimore, MD 21227 (phone: 410-247-7777). Find out more tips for donating or properly discarding of textiles at: https://mygreenmontgomery.org/project/clothes/.

Resources:

NEW: If you are a victim of SNAP fraud/EBT skimming, go to:

https://mocofoodcouncil.org/snapoutreach/.

Office of Community Affairs, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services:

Community Action Agency’s combined FY20 and FY21 annual report

African American Health Program

Asian American Health Initiative

Latino Health Initiative

Health:

Montgomery County COVID-19 information: Vaccines for adults and children ages six months and up.

Montgomery County COVID-19 hotline in English: 240-777-1755, and in Spanish: 301-270-8432.

Resource Directories:

Get Help page, Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center, Montgomery County, MD https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/gilchrist/get-help/

WorkSource Montgomery’s Community Assets Map

Housing – Repairs, eviction prevention, evictions:

For low-income households, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development has home repair loans that can assist with paying for radon abatement and other repairs: https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Residents/Pages/SpecialLoans.aspx.

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County – repairs, aging in place modifications to homes: https://rebuildingtogethermc.org/

Landlord-Tenant Affairs, Department of Housing and Community Affairs: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/housing/landlordtenant/evictions.html

Sheriff’s Office, Evictions office: 240-777-7130 https://montgomerycountymd.gov/sheriff/sections/eviction-section.html

Montgomery County Renters Alliance – advocacy, education on tenants’ rights: https://www.rentersalliance.org/

Safety and Emergency Preparedness:

Montgomery County flooding website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/flooding/. Information on frequently flooded roads, steps residents can take to prepare for potential flooding, and the availability of Flood Insurance available to all properties in the County and a survey on flooding in your neighborhood.

The Maryland Insurance Administration also has a flood insurance information page.

Alert Montgomery: Sign up to receive accurate and immediate notifications about emergencies that may affect your home, workplace, child's school, or any other Montgomery County locations. Alerts can be sent via text, email, or voice message.

OEMHS website: Tips on preparing for severe storms.

The Montgomery County Family Justice Center helps people in domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse situations. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/fjc/

Montgomery County Family Violence Awareness and Prevention

The Montgomery County Crisis Center specializes in serving people with behavioral health (mental health) crises. Information about the Crisis Center and other crisis intervention services:

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs/programindex/crisisservicesindex.html

Food and Household items:

How to protect SNAP benefits from fraud: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Fraud - Maryland Department of Human Services

Information the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: https://dhs.maryland.gov/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/

Food assistance resources and programs (information available in English, Spanish, Amharic, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean)

Food Assistance Resource Map - https://mocofoodcouncil.org/map/

Diaper distribution

Financial empowerment:

My Green Montgomery: How to lower your energy costs and much more! https://mygreenmontgomery.org/projects/energy/

CASHBACK – VITA Services and tax credit information

Free Financial Counseling: Financial Empowerment Center at WorkSource Montgomery.

Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund: Assistance with mortgage payments or other housing costs due to COVID-19 related financial hardships. MHAF application assistance: Latino Economic Development Corporation and Housing Initiatives Partnership.

Ban the Box, or the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Law, assists in the successful reintegration of people with criminal records into the workforce by removing barriers to employment and housing. Find out more from the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights.

CFPB Your Money, Your Goals

CFPB Financial Education Tools in Multiple Languages

Protecting Immigrant Families: Immigrant eligibility for public programs.

Unemployment Insurance

Office of Home Energy Programs: Utilities assistance.

WSSC water & sewer bill assistance in English and Spanish. Call Center Advisors: 301-206-4001.

Link above pdf on file in GovDelivery as an attachment.

Water bill assistance flier in English and Spanish

Transit:

Ride-On Reimagined is campaign to assess the bus network for significant changes. Go to the link to see opportunities for Public Forums and Community Engagement events. Ride On Reimagined - Montgomery County Division of Transit Services (montgomerycountymd.gov).

The Community Action Agency is part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Affairs.

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