Michael Swayze's Community Resources

Category: Community Resources

  • Veteran’s Homeless Resources

    This is a short note based on an email I received today from a representative of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His email reads as follows:
    “I would like to thank you providing valuable resources and support to the people of New Jersey. I thought you and your visitors would be interested in VA’s initiative to end Veteran homelessness by 2015. The initiative showcases VA’s unprecedented commitment to ending homelessness by providing funding for and access to programs that aid homeless and at-risk Veterans.”

    “I highly encourage you to learn more about the initiative. VA’s site www.va.gov/homeless contains information about resources for homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families such as: Housing Assistance, Employment Programs, Health Care, Mental Health Services.”

    A short note but a very useful website for vets.

  • Good Idea + Bad Follow Through = TRUE Grant Program

    A couple months ago I posted an article about how certain energy safety net rules are overlooked. At the end of the article I mentioned a new program known as the TRUE Grant program and stated it “hasn’t been overly successful in averting shutoffs for moderate income families.” The purpose of my writing here is to 1) shed some light on this still under-utilized program, 2) ask state policy makers what is being done to improve upon it, and 3) tell people where to go or who to call if they need help with their utility bills.

    First a brief history. Due to the “Great Recession” a number of legislators felt a need to help struggling families with their utility bills. Legislation was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly in 2008. Senate bill S3064 was introduced in November, 2009. Both bodies passed the bill overwhelmingly in January, 2010 and it was signed by then Acting Governor Stephen Sweeney. The legislation provides $25 million for utility
    assistance grants for qualified households. Technically, it became P.L. 2009, Chapter 207.

    It was assumed that grants would commence on or about July 1, 2010 as indicated in the legislation. Instead, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) voted in November, 2010 to put the program out for bid. The Board issued a Notice of Availability of Grants, advising nonprofits in the state how they might become the program administrator. The Board of Public Utilities finally awarded the $25 million grant to the Affordable Housing Alliance, an agency located in Eatontown and issued a February 10, 2011 news release.

    The Star Ledger printed an article in their Sunday, February 5, 2012 newspaper titled
    “NJ Offers First Year Of Heating Assistance For Moderate Income Families”. The program finally began March, 2011 according to Michele Torres, director of the Temporary Relief for Utility Expenses (TRUE) program. In a year’s time the program has only given out $4.5 million to approximately 5400 households. Over $20 million remains available “to middle-income families who normally pay utility bills but are in a tough spot”.

    Initially, the Affordable Housing Alliance partnered with five agencies in the state but has since increased the number slightly to 12. The TRUE website lists the local intake agencies as:
    1) Atlantic Human Resources, 609-404-4801 (Atlantic);
    2) Bergen County Community Action Partnership, 201-968-0200 ext 7008 (Bergen);
    3) Affordable Housing Alliance, 732-982-8710 (Burlington, Cape May, Monmouth, Passaic, Sussex, Warren);
    4) Camden County Council on Economic Opportunity, 856-964-6887 (Camden, Gloucester);
    5) Bethel Development Corp., 856-327-9092 (Cumberland, Salem);
    6) La Casa de Don Pedro, 973-485-0795 or 0796, ext 4415 or 4409, opt 7 (Essex, Union);

    7) P.A.C.O., 201-217-0583 (Hudson);
    8) Mercer County Hispanic Association (MECHA), 609-587-8800 (Mercer, Hunterdon);
    9) Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB), 732-828-4541 (Middlesex);
    10) Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs (MCOHA), 973-644-4884 (Morris);
    11) Ocean, Inc., 732-244-9041 ext 10 or 11 (Ocean);
    12) Catholic Charities, 908-333-2271 (Somerset).

    To fulfill the mission within a reasonable period of time the BPU and Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA) must increase the number of local intake agencies. AHA must rethink why many nonprofits are/were not interested in becoming a partner. Could it be due to unrealistic administrative reimbursement? Everyone involved in the TRUE program must do a better job at outreach. As one energy expert recently said to me, “The TRUE program is the best kept secret in New Jersey.” AHA must also revisit the unrealistic rules they have put in place. Would a legislator have sponsored the bill or voted for passage if he or she knew that households already shutoff would not be eligible for funds?

    The statewide energy nonprofit, NJ SHARES was created so non-poor households had a place to turn to. AHA should follow their example.

  • EITC Awareness Day – January 27, 2012

    The Internal Revenue Service has declared January 27, 2012 as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day. It is a program enacted in 1975 during the Nixon Administration and expanded during the Reagan years. Although technically a tax program, it is considered one of the principal social programs for working families. Nationally, in 2011 over 26 million taxpayers received $59 billion in EITC tax refunds. EITC rewards work and reduces poverty.

    An IRS spokesperson recently stated, “If you worked any part of last year (2011) and your income was around $49,000 or less see if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC.” It can put extra money in a family’s pocket, up to $5700. In New Jersey in 2011 552,000 households received $1.17 billion via the EITC credit, with an average refund of $2,117. For a single parent with one child it is estimated that EITC effectively raises wages by $1.25 an hour.

    An EITC Tax Tip Video makes a number of suggestions. They include:
    1) Use free brand name tax software through IRS’ Free File program if your adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less. For details visit the IRS Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes For Free page.
    2) Utilize the services of any of the 400 nationwide IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers to get face-to-face tax help. In New Jersey there are twelve local offices located in Cherry Hill, Edison, Fairfield, Freehold, Jersey City, Mays Landing, Mountainside, Newark, Paramus, Parsippany, Paterson, and Trenton. Visit the link for locations and telephone numbers.
    3) Take advantage of local and free tax preparation sites – known as VITA or AARP Tax-Aide sites – during the tax season. For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of New Jersey tax assistance sites visit the NJ 2-1-1 website. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 800-906-9887, if you do not have Internet access. In New Jersey, dial 2-1-1 or 877-652-1148 to find the closest free tax preparation site.

    There are a couple tips that I also would like to pass on. They fall into the category of consumer protection and financial literacy. Does it make sense to pay $100 or even $200 to a commercial tax preparer if you can have your tax preparation done for free and get your refund via direct deposit? You should be familiar with the term “rapid refund” and currently known as a “refund anticipation check”. They are nothing more than expensive loans. In the consumer affairs community these services are known as Refund Anticipation Loans or RALs. For a good explanation of how expensive RALs are see a recent National Consumer Law Center report. Fortunately, 2011 may be the last year in the life of these loan schemes.

    In the past couple years a number of VITA programs have partnered with financial institutions to enable tax filers to open accounts with the idea of getting a tax refund quicker via direct deposit. New Jersey consumers are fortunate in having available to them low-cost, low-volume basic checking services known as New Jersey Consumer Checking Accounts. If you want to promote financial literacy and encourage consumer education spread the word about consumer checking accounts.

    For additional information on tax preparation programs and organizations that sponsor them, visit the New Jersey Community Resources’ NJ Earned Income Tax Credit web page.