Cuyahoga EITC Coalition
Cause Area
- Community
- Education & Literacy
- Seniors
Location
812 Huron Rd ESte 235Cleveland, OH 44115 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition is a community coalition that promotes economic justice and improves lives through volunteer tax preparation assistance (VITA) and asset building activities that move low to moderate income families from financial uncertainty to financial security. Our vision is one that includes neighborhoods that are free from predatory financial practices.
Description
The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition promotes free, reliable, and trusted tax preparation services for low- and middle-income filers. Many filers are subject to filing fees and refund anticipation loans (RALs) sold to them by private for-profit businesses (often times that are predatory). These fees and loans are avoided by using the Coalition's free tax sites throughout Cuyahoga County. The sites are free, quick, and an efficient alternative to paid preparers.
The Coalition has seen impressive growth since the first year of operations. In 2004, 850 clients received $1.2 million in refunds at VITA sites. By 2012, 10,982 clients received $14.2 million in refunds. During the past eight years, more than 66,000 customers had their taxes prepared. As a result, they received over $84 million in refunds. These results were achieved with the help of more than 1,800 volunteers.