NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
CITY AND HARRISBURG ACORN TEAM-UP TO PROVIDE OVER $600,000 IN TAX REFUNDS TO CITY RESIDENTS; HOUSING & LENDING FAIR SET FOR JUNE 4THMayor Stephen R. Reed and Harrisburg Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now(ACORN) local head organizer Ben Hanna today announced that 647 city residents have received a total of $608,066 in federal tax refunds as a result of the innovative IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assis- tance Program, which was conducted by ACORN and largely cosponsored by the City of Harrisburg. Reed said the new initiative, a national program of ACORN that featured similar efforts at 45 locations around the country, was considered highly successful in generating additional federal tax refund monies for city residents, many of whom were low to moderate income workers. The program involved the provision of free federal tax refund filing services by ACORN volunteers and staffers. The city provided $25,000 in funding for the program. Of the $608,066 in refund dollars. Approximately $290,875 of the amount was directly given to low income filers who were eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) program, which provides up to $4,300 in additional tax credits for low income families. The EITC program is considered one of the federal government’s most successful anti-poverty programs. “We are very pleased with the results of this inaugural effort in Harrisburg,” said Mayor, “and extend our appreciation to ACORN and the volunteers and other supporters who helped make it possible. This was an important and innovative program that helped secure substantial federal tax refunds for hundreds of city residents, as well as generated many additional refund dollars through the EITC program. “This is money in our residents’ pockets that can be used to pay off bills, purchase new goods and services, buy a car or home, or otherwise put to good use.” Hanna said that ACORN was very pleased to partner with the city in conducting the program, and looked forward to future such joint projects between the organization and the city. Hanna and Reed also noted that ACORN will be conducting its annual Community Lending Fair on Saturday, June 4th, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fountain Gate Church at 1419 Derry Street in S. Allison Hill. The Fair is designed to educate and assist residents in avoiding predatory lending practices and provide them with safer and more equitable options for lending and other financial needs. The event features information and outreach by banks, housing agencies and other community groups engaged in the financial services fields. Sponsors or participants in this year’s event include the City of Harrisburg, PNC Bank, Sovereign Bank, M&T Bank, the PA Dept. of Banking, Community Action Commission, Fair Housing Council, ACORN Housing Corporation and Harrisburg ACORN. For more information on ACORN VITA program or the Community Lending Fair please contact Harrisburg ACORN at (717) 233.0133. |
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