As the year comes to a close, many of us take the opportunity to spend time with friends and family and to help those around us. One way to help more people is by joining Goodwill® to support programs that boost economic stability for low-income individuals and families.
In the coming year, we will be educating the new Congress about the benefit of programs that provide resources to promote self-sufficiency and independence such as:
- Expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to populations who need it like veterans, non-custodial parents, and others;
- The continuation of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
- Comprehensive options for education and training through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Goodwill Industries International team and our colleagues at CFED and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have created some quick fact sheets to get the skinny on each of these. So, in between glasses of good cheer this holiday, take just a couple of minutes to be a messenger of facts on TANF, EITC, VITA and SNAP.
While TANF and VITA are extended with the stopgap budget that runs through April, each of these programs will be up for discussion in 2017, and proposals to make big changes lie ahead. At this time of year, when family, thankfulness, and celebrations are top of mind, take a moment to wish your senator and representative in Washington a happy holiday and thank them for passing the current budget with VITA and TANF included. They’ll be driving many of the critical decisions for families we serve in the coming months.
