Press Releases
Coalition Calls on Governor Newsom to Make CalEITC Available to Immigrant Workers Unable to Access Federal Safety-Net Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 16, 2020
Contact:
Unai Montes (Bilingual)
Communications Director, United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(213) 476 8742 cell
CalEITC Coalition Urgently Calls on Governor Newsom to Deploy Critical Resources Now to Boost Anti-Poverty Tax Credits to All Working Californians, Regardless of Immigration Status, In Light of California COVID-19 State of Emergency
600,000 Californians without SSNs Prepare and File Income Taxes with ITINs; Their Exclusion From CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit Makes Their 200,000 (Mostly U.S. Born) Children Even More Vulnerable in Wake of Economic Response to Nation’s Health Pandemic
What: The Coronavirus outbreak is already having a significant economic impact on our communities, hitting some Californians harder than others. Legislative champions and the CalEITC Coalition—made up of over 45 California anti-poverty, immigrants’ rights, faith-based organizations and children’s advocates — continue to build momentum and speak out about the unjust exclusion of ITIN filers from the CalEITC, one of our state’s most powerful means of lifting families out of poverty and buffering against economic crisis. Additionally, ITIN filers are still not allowed to take advantage of the Young Child Tax Credit. With our nation in a state of emergency and the level of economic uncertainty ramping up, CalEITC is calling for Governor Newsom to change these two tax credits immediately, in time to promote the programs for an April 15, 2020 income tax filing season….making a California for ALL.
Statement by Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California Regarding Governor Newsom's January 2020-21 Budget Proposal
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2020
Unai Montes, (Bilingual)
213-476-8742
Governor’s January Budget Invests in Housing, Homelessness, and Supports School-Community Collaboratives; But Misses Opportunity to Make CalEITC/Young Child Tax Credit for All
United Ways of California, representing 30 local United Ways across the state, praises investments to counter the housing and homelessness crisis; expresses excitement over decision to fund innovation in local education agency partnerships designed to meet the needs of students; disappointment in the continued exclusion of households using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) from tax credits in today’s state budget proposal
(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, United Ways of California, (UWCA) regarding Governor Newsom’s 2020-2021 budget:
“We are pleased to see so many of our shared values reflected in the Governor’s January Budget proposal. California continues to experience a revenue surplus heading into 2020, giving the Governor and policymakers greater opportunities to make critical investments in issues facing our state, amounting to a record-high $222.2 billion state budget, while still continuing to ensure a robust rainy day fund. In the coming months, we look forward to a vigorous negotiation process with lawmakers and advocates alike to agree on a final budget that further reflects the values and needs of all Californians, especially those households that are struggling financially to stay afloat.
Joint statement on the ongoing exclusion of ITIN tax filers from CalEITC/Young Child Tax Credit
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2020
Unai Montes, (Bilingual)
213-476-8742
Advocacy Coalition of Over 30 California Organizations Urge Governor Newsom to Add Tax Filers With Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to Refundable Tax Credits via State Budget
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Advocacy Coalition notes that including hard-working California immigrants with an ITIN to both the CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit would help to lift 200,000 children out of poverty
(Sacramento, CA) — Today the CalEITC Advocacy Coalition urges equitable benefits for all hard-working Californians, regardless of their immigration status. Currently, Californians who file taxes with ITINs—due to their immigration status—are not eligible for the CalEITC or Young Child Tax Credit. Over 200,000 of California’s children are excluded from these critical benefits.
Joint statement on opportunity to invest in proven program to bridge silos and facilitate partnerships between schools and nonprofit service providers
For Immediate Release
January 10, 2020
Unai Montes, (Bilingual)
213-476-8742
Governor Newsom’s Budget Proposal Targets Opportunities to Foster Innovative Partnerships Across Silos and Sectors via Community School Investment and Makes Investments in Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Higher Education
With the promise of universal screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on the horizon, California’s Departments of Health and Education need pathways for coordinating and integrating service delivery, and the community schools model holds great promise for addressing the needs of students and their families
(Sacramento, CA) — Today the Governor released his budget in which substantial funding is proposed to be allocated towards California’s public education system. We thank the Administration for its continued commitment to invest in the future of children and families by prioritizing education funding, while better recognizing the intersection of academic achievement and the social determinants of health.
Statement by Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways California, Regarding New SNAP Requirements
United Ways of California improves the health, education and financial stability of low-income workersand families by enhancing and coordinating the advocacy and community impact work of 31 member United Ways throughout California.
Earlier this year we wrote to the Certification Policy Branch of the SNAP Program Development Division of the Food and Nutrition Service office in the U.S. Department of Agriculture opposing the White House’s proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Click here to read our correspondence.
Today we underscore our opposition. The new requirements hurt food insecure families.
37% of all California households struggle to stay afloat. And 9 out of 10 of these households have at least one working adult in them. 30% of California residents spend more than a third of their income on rent, and some spend up to 76%, which means that after paying rent, many low-income working families have little to meet all their other needs, such as transportation, medical necessities, child care, and food. Without CalFresh food assistance, hundreds of thousands of low-income working families would go hungry.
A sad fact of American life is that 40% of households, including middle class earners, would have trouble meeting an unexpected expense of only $400. California and the United States should be doing more to help working families build savings and assets, to move toward financial security.
The new SNAP requirements take us in exactly the wrong direction. They eliminate benefits for all individuals (including seniors and persons with disabilities) if their assets exceed $3,500. Small savings accounts and other modest assets are all that stand between many households and homelessness. Depriving these families of SNAP food assistance not only guarantees more families will go hungry, it pushes them those lucky enough to have some modest savings to drain them down to zero, putting them at greater risk of catastrophe.
Even Californians who continue to receive CalFresh under the new SNAP requirements are likely to see lower benefits as the program is nearly fully federally funded. Those working to support children will be hit hardest. Especially those working to support young children—60% of all households in California with children under 5 have a hard time meeting their basic needs. And food insecure children experience developmental, educational, health, and other challenges with both short and long term repercussions.
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- Statement by Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways California, Denouncing Epidemic of Hatred and Gun Violence
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- United Ways of California Lauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Decision to Temporarily Halt Addition of Citizenship Question in 2020 Census
