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Financial Stability Initiative
United Way of Ocean County’s Financial Stability Initiative has been collaborating with government, businesses and non profits to work towards solutions that address the root causes of problems in our area. Through Financial Stability Initiative programs, we hope to foster the development of short and long term financial plans with most of our focus on people who may feel intimidated and isolated from the world of finance.
We hope to do this by educating the public about the Earned Income Tax Credit, by enabling VITA sites (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance,) by bringing Financial Literacy to our students in school while they are still young enough to have a positive influence on their financial behaviors and choices, and collaborating with our own Success by 6 partners to deliver critical Financial Literacy information and workshops to the parents of pre-school aged children.
Earned Income Tax Credit Initiative - EITC
Ocean County residents who were eligible, did not claim over six million dollars in EITC benefits last year. Although this is the strongest anti-poverty the government has sponsored to date, 15 to 25 percent of eligible residents in Ocean County did not file a claim, according to the IRS' most recent data. This is due to the unfortunate fact that correct information reached too few families and too few families had access to free IRS endorsed VITA sites. The goal of United Way of Ocean County's Financial Stability Initiative is to remedy this situation.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
United Way of Ocean County and Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. will join forces to provide free income tax preparation to low income families. Elizabeth Ortiz, pictured right, bi-lingual VITA Site Coordinator, will make appointments and answer questions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in Toms River and on Saturdays in Lakewood.
VITA Site #1 - 301 Lakehurst Rd. Toms River
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays beginning February 3rd 10am - 3pm
VITA Site #2 - 101 Second St. Lakewood
Saturdays beginning February 7th 9am - 3pm
For more information and to make an appointment, Please call: United Way of Ocean County at 732-240-0311
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