Courtland St

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

THE SSVF PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANTS TO PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSUMER COOPERATIVES, WHO WILL COORDINATE OR PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES WHO ARE RESIDING IN PERMANENT HOUSING, ARE HOMELESS AND SCHEDULED TO BECOME RESIDENTS OF PERMANENT HOUSING WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD; OR AFTER EXITING PERMANENT HOUSING WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD, ARE SEEKING OTHER HOUSING THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO SUCH VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILY'S NEEDS AND PREFERENCES. GRANTEES WILL USE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT FUNDS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICE. ALL GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING VA BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING AND COORDINATING OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED SERVICES, GRANTEES MAY ALSO PROVIDE TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PAID DIRECTLY TO A THIRD PARTY ON BEHALF OF A PARTICIPANT FOR CHILD CARE, EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY-FEE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, SECURITY DEPOSITS, UTILITY DEPOSITS, MOVING COSTS, AND GENERAL HOUSING STABILITY ASSISTANCE (WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY SUPPLIES), IN ACCORDANCE WITH 38 CFR PART 62. ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES MAY INCLUDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES. GRANTEES WILL USE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT FUNDS TO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICE. ALL GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING VA BENEFITS AND ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING AND COORDINATING OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED SERVICES, GRANTEES MAY ALSO PROVIDE TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PAID DIRECTLY TO A THIRD PARTY ON BEHALF OF A PARTICIPANT FOR CHILD CARE, EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY-FEE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, SECURITY DEPOSITS, UTILITY DEPOSITS, MOVING COSTS, AND GENERAL HOUSING STABILITY ASSISTANCE (WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY SUPPLIES), IN ACCORDANCE WITH 38 CFR PART 62. ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES MAY INCLUDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES.