Financial Wellness
FINANCIAL WELLNESS
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE
United Way’s Financial Wellness programs support hard-working, low-wage earners in our community from Career to Retirement. Programs and partnerships are focused on improving employment and financial security for life-long well-being.
The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program provides free tax preparation to households earning up to $79,000. The Siemer Family Stability Program in partnership with Our Family Services and the Siemer Institute, seeks to help families in crisis stabilize and position themselves to improve their quality of life. Prosperity in Schools, in partnership with the Community Schools Initiative, Higher Ground, and AmeriCorps, helps connect families to human service resources in the community.
- $20 Million in Federal refunds returned to Arizona residents, including $10.3 million in Earned Income Tax Credit.
- 13,000 tax returns completed by 450 volunteers in 10 Arizona counties.
- 11,770 low-income households received free tax preparation services in Pima County.
- 94 homeless veterans provided with support and resources.
- Helped families become more financially stable
- Helped families avoid eviction or obtain affordable housing
FINANCIAL WELLNESS PARTNERSHIP
The Financial Wellness Partnership brings together community organizations, nonprofits, funders, businesses, and government offices for focused discussions on financial well-being. The group seeks to improve the financial wellness of individuals and families by increasing accessibility to effective services, resources, and opportunities, and by influencing policy to develop equitable, people-centered systems that support financial wellness.
HOUSING STABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS
Increase equitable access to affordable housing for all and supportive services to prevent and alleviate homelessness.
Current and Future Impact:
- Collaborative partner and Board member for Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness (TPCH).
- Convene and collaborate with trusted nonprofit partners to address the spectrum of issues from causes to immediate needs.
- The Family Eviction Prevention Program supports families facing eviction move from crisis to stability by providing financial assistance and additional critical supports.
- Affordable Housing for Older Adults, a collaborative initiative for lower- income older adults to prevent eviction and homelessness Emergency Rental and Utility.
Learn more by clicking here.
MEET TRI
Each year, the VITA program helps thousands of Southern Arizonans put money back into their wallets and, in turn, back into our economy. This program is led by United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona in collaboration with Catholic Community Services, United Way of Yuma County, United Way of Pinal County, and United Way of Northern Arizona. Together, the collaborative is the largest tax preparer in the state of Arizona, serving ten of Arizona’s fifteen counties.
Tri moved from Vietnam to Tucson when he was thirteen years old. While going to classes at Pima Community College to become a tax preparer, Tri began volunteering with United Way's VITA Program as a tax preparer and was able to gain valuable experience helping hard-working, low-wage earners receive the highest tax return available to their circumstances. In Tri's words, " By volunteering as a tax preparer, United Way has given me the opportunity to work individually and in a team to gain experience for my future career. This experience has given me a chance to make a difference in our community. United Way seeks to promote equity and excellence in education, financial stability, healthy communities through their important programs."
