February 6, 2017

Today Catalyst Miami joined dozens of local organizations in asking our County Commissioners to uphold Resolution 1008-13, which declines to honor non-mandatory federal immigration detainer requests for low-level offenses and unless federal government agrees to reimburse the County for the cost of honoring such requests. The Resolution, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2013, saves taxpayer dollars, avoids unlawful detentions, protects families, and makes us all safer by building trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement. As an organization working towards a thriving Miami in which all members of our community have equal access to justice and protection and work together to achieve common goals, Catalyst Miami supports honoring Resolution 1008-13, as well as other policies that serve our common good.

A majority of Miami-Dade County residents are foreign born, and many among them are undocumented children and families, workers, business owners, students, activists, and people who contribute to the beautiful diversity of our community. This diversity is precisely what has earned Miami such a distinct image and alluring position among US cities. The Secure Communities Program, and similar arrangements between federal and county authorities, undermines the relationship between our immigrant community and our law enforcement agencies, which in turn decreases the public safety of our entire community. The Secure Communities Program, as demonstrated by a 2013 Fiscal Impact Analysis of Miami-Dade's Policy on Immigration Detainers, may cost our County's taxpayers an estimated $12.5 million a year, a cost that threatens to cripple services and programs that are vital to our community such as public libraries, after-school programs, first responder units, and more.

It is during times of hardship and adversity that true leadership must come together and heed the call to care for, defend, and protect the most vulnerable. This is such a time. Therefore, Catalyst Miami urges Mayor Gimenez, our Board of County Commissioners, and the rest of our elected leadership to join other cities and local governments throughout the country in unifying and doing whatever is necessary to protect all members of our communities. Catalyst Miami also reaffirms our commitment to continue to provide the kind of support and guidance that are urgently needed during this time of hardship and to strengthen our partnerships to have the most impact together.

January 26, 2017
By Brandon Johnson, Public Ally currently serving his 10-month AmeriCorps apprenticeship with Catalyst Miami

Kaleem was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He experienced racial and financial adversity early on that he channeled into his purpose in life. He naturally developed a sense of being a difference maker as he challenged narratives that were degrading. Prior to Public Allies, Kaleem had an extensive volunteer history with underprivileged youth centers that encouraged being a mentor and setting positive standards for minority youth. Kaleem knows how effective such tentative efforts can be firsthand because he grew up in a similar environment and was able to overcome those deficits.

Kaleem insists that providing similar opportunities to upcoming youth is a civil duty and he swears by an individual's ability to facilitate change. This has rolled over into his current role at Miami Children's Initiative where he works on the Career and College Mentoring and Development Program. Kaleem is tasked with professional development, connecting low-income Liberty-City residents with better life opportunities such as higher education and higher pay so that they can be sustainable in their lives. Kaleem hopes to continue the same body of work and break barriers for minority communities. He sees Public Allies as an avenue for learning catalyzing techniques for him to channel into uplifting deprived communities.

Local Community Group Helps Low to Moderate Income Families Keep 100% of Their Refund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami, Florida – January 23, 2017 — It is more important than ever to prepare accurate income tax returns during the 2017 tax season. A new law requires the IRS to delay issuing refunds for certain taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15. The law has no exceptions and is designed to make it easier for the IRS to find and stop fraud.

Catalyst Miami houses one of over 12,000 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs across the country that the IRS relies on to help people file their taxes every year, completely free of charge. In 2016 alone, our IRS certified volunteers helped over 2,000 families and individuals in Miami Dade County qualify for and keep 100% of their refunds—over $2.5 million—without worrying about hidden fees or unexpected charges.

On average, many of our clients receive over thirty percent of their annual income in tax refunds, making their tax returns vital to their financial lives. “For more than 10 years, Catalyst Miami has helped individuals and families get their maximum refund that they use on necessities, like paying bills, paying down debt, making new purchases, and saving,” said Mr. Chris Moreno, Community Wealth Manager at Catalyst Miami. “We are dedicated to helping as many community members as we can and encourage taxpayers to be wary of preparers promising faster refunds through expensive financial products, like loans.”

Mr. Moreno adds, “Don’t let people take advantage of you, claiming to be able to get you a quicker refund. High-interest loans and short-term advances on your refund will only cost you in the long run.” Catalyst Miami and community partners will begin the 2017 Tax Filing season in Miami Dade County today on Monday, January 23, 2017.

Who can get free tax prep? Generally, individuals and families who make less than $54,000 are eligible to have their taxes prepared and e-filed for free. Our services are also available to persons with disabilities, the elderly and non-native English speakers who need assistance in preparing their taxes.

High Quality Service. The volunteers and staff tax preparers at Catalyst Miami free tax preparation site go through at least 15 hours of training and are certified by the IRS. We make sure our customers get high-quality, professional service by trained volunteers who are equipped to identify tax refund opportunities for customers. Our goal is to help our customers get their maximum refund and claim all the credits that they have earned. During the 2015 filing season alone, over 90,000 volunteers nationwide helped prepare over 3.7 million returns at thousands of tax sites.

For more information on Catalyst Miami and their expert tax preparation services, visit www.catalystmiami.org. Or, plan on using the Free File Alliance program that allows you to choose brand name tax preparation software at no cost to you. This option is available at www.freefilealliance.org and can be accessed from the comfort of your living room.

###

Catalyst Miami is an anti-poverty nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and support individual leaders and strong organizations that work together to improve health, economic opportunity, and civic engagement in our community. To learn more about Catalyst Miami, visit www.catalystmiami.org.

Media Contact:
Molly Delahunty
[email protected]
305-576-5001

January 11, 2017
By Darren Liddell

Tax season is almost here and many are prepping for their individual and family tax returns. Over the last 10 years, Catalyst Miami has been providing free tax preparation to the Miami-Dade community and offering trainings to teach volunteers how to prepare taxes for their community. This year, there is a big change impacting those that file taxes without Social Security Numbers (SSN). Tax filers using Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs) will now have to make sure their ITINS are not expiring.

This change will impact individuals who have previously received an ITIN number but have not filed a tax return at least once for tax years 2013, 2014, or 2015. Additionally, ITINs with middle digits 78 and 79 (Example: 9XX-78-XXXX) expired on December 31, 2016. Anyone, including dependents, meeting the conditions above will need to apply for a new ITIN. The IRS is emphasizing that no action is needed if ITIN holders do not need to file a tax return this upcoming tax season.

What to do if you need to renew your ITIN? You must submit a completed form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to the IRS.  You can review your ITIN application today by submitting your Form W-7, a copy of your IRS 5281 (if you received one), and all required identification documentation.  Anyone who receives a renewal letter from IRS can choose to review for all of the family members claimed on their tax return at the same time.

If you have never had an ITIN number but would like to receive one, we prepare ITIN applications all throughout the year and can help you to apply for the first time in addition to renewing your ITIN.

Need help completing your W-7 application or have questions? Schedule to meet with one of our tax team members by reaching out to Darren Liddell, Sr. Director of Community Wealth, at [email protected] or 786-527-2570.

Want to be a tax volunteer? Connect with Chris Moreno, Community Wealth Manager, at [email protected] or 786-414-1299.

Additional resources:  

ITIN Changes Fact Sheet (English/Spanish): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5259.pdf
ITIN Changes Fact Sheet (Haitian Creole): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5259ht.pdf?_ga=1.12924980.205894892.1472226932

January 9, 2017
Adapted from Florida Legal Services

President-elect Trump and Congressional leaders have repeatedly stated their intent to repeal the ACA, and it has been widely reported that the repeal effort will be “fast-tracked” starting in January 2017.

ACA repeal puts coverage for over 2.2 million Floridians-- including children, people with disabilities, and pre-existing conditions-- at risk. Most are in working families. The ACA, Medicaid, and CHIP have provided affordable health insurance coverage to millions of Americans-- many of them for the first time starting in 2014. Nationwide, over 80% of Americans that stand to lose coverage are members of working families with family incomes between 100 and 250% of the federal poverty level (between $24,300 and $60,750 for a family of 4). These are working Floridians who have been able to afford to go to the doctor for the first time in years.

Florida would lose billions in federal support. Not only will the Floridians lose their health insurance, Florida stands to lose over $8 billion in federal dollars annually. Most of those dollars (over $6.1 billion) go to pay for the premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions that make insurance affordable for low and moderate income Floridians. This large loss of federal funding does not account for the ripple effect of additional lost revenue that would be experienced in local economies.

Many Floridians would immediately lose affordable health coverage. Repealing this federal support for coverage without a replacement plan, would destabilize the insurance market almost immediately. Even a gradual phase out of the tax credits that help make coverage affordable could force most Floridians out of the marketplace. Those remaining will likely be less healthy, and insurers need healthy consumers to balance the cost of paying for sicker customers. The proposed repeal without out replacement means premiums could skyrocket for all of us.

Florida would lose ground on historic progress covering children. More children have coverage than ever before on record-- 95% nationally and 93% in Florida in 2015.^[1] The anticipated ACA repeal would reverse this historic progress. Nationally, repeal alone would double the number of uninsured children. Threats to alter financing of Medicaid and CHIP--also on the table for 2017 healthcare proposals--would mean additional cuts to kids and families who rely on those programs.

Footnotes:
^[1] Linda J. Blumberg, Matthew Buettgens, and John Holahan, “Implications of Partial Repeal of the ACA through Reconciliation,” Urban Institute, December 2016. The “UI Report” modeled the effect of a repeal bill similar to the reconciliation bill vetoed by President Obama in January 2016.

^[2] J. Alker and A. Chester, “Children’s Health Coverage Rate Now at Historic High of 95 Percent,” Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (October 2016), available at http://ccf.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Kids-ACS-update-11-02-1.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2016

On December 13th, 2016 Catalyst Miami will celebrate the inaugural cohort of CLEAR Miami (Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience) at CIC Miami (1951 NW 7th Ave). This training program was created in response to the challenges that Miami-Dade County’s 2.7 million residents are likely to face as a consequence of climate change and sea level rise. These challenges include an endangerment of 90% of South Florida’s drinking water, 7-foot storm surges occurring every five years instead of the current 76-year frequency, an increased number of King Tide flooding events and heat waves, as well as a threat to the County’s tourism and agricultural economies. The over 1.5 million Miami-Dade County residents that are financially vulnerable will face a disproportionate climate burden because these populations have the least resources to adapt and recover from these and other climate shocks.

CLEAR Miami focuses on climate resilience leadership and provides graduates with a groundwork to become climate resilience educators, leaders, and innovators in their own communities and beyond. Participants will develop a deep understanding of climate science, local climate change threats, and solutions. The program is a 12-week commitment. As a result of the program the graduates have taken on community projects. These projects include: incorporating environmental concerns in neighborhood coalitions (Allapattah and Goulds), cleaning up garbage and promoting recycling in their neighborhoods (Little Haiti and Liberty City), and promoting emergency preparedness (Overtown, Liberty City, Kendall). For more information on CLEAR Miami or the upcoming event, contact Zelalem Adefris, Climate Resilience Program Manager, at [email protected] or 786-414-1300.

###

Catalyst Miami is an anti-poverty nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and support individual leaders and strong organizations that work together to improve health, economic opportunity, and civic engagement in our community. To learn more about Catalyst Miami, visit www.catalystmiami.org.

CONTACT
Molly Delahunty
Catalyst Miami
786-414-1292
[email protected]

December 2, 2016
A letter from one of our funders, Gene Shaefer, Miami market president of Bank of America.

While many of us may take food, shelter and funds to pay the bills for granted, for many, access and availability of these basic human needs is far from guaranteed. Every day in Miami-Dade County, families are faced with difficult decisions about where they will sleep at night, what they will eat and how they will pay for items like electricity and clothing. With the weight of this burden, it can become nearly impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel or break out of a vicious cycle of poverty.

And while the work being done by many organizations and individuals is helping to make inroads, half of Miami-Dade County’s population is struggling with 21 percent living below the poverty line and 29 percent earning less than the cost of living and struggling to make ends meet, according to the United Way of Florida’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report.

We know our community will continue to work tirelessly until every single family in our community is food and shelter secure. Central to this effort are the invaluable nonprofit organizations who provide a safety net for individuals and families so they can be connected with basic human services that help neighborhoods thrive.

That’s why recently, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation announced Catalyst Miami as a recipient of a 2016 Basic Human Services grant. Catalyst Miami will use the funds to sustain and grow their prosperity work to help low and middle income Miami residents lead healthy and financially stable lives by providing access to healthcare and benefits as well as financial/credit coaching and career/resume assistance.

Catalyst Miami is an anti-poverty nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and support individual leaders and strong organizations that work together to improve health, economic opportunity, and civic engagement in our community. They achieve this by providing basic needs services and offering a number of leadership trainings ranging from advocacy, parenting, climate resilience, and systemic poverty – all programs being free. To learn more about Catalyst Miami, visit www.catalystmiami.org.

Providing financial support to these organizations is important, but it’s also critical to help people forge a path to economic stability. Through our Better Money Habits program and partnerships with several nonprofit organizations in our community, Bank of America aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and coaching to make strong financial decisions. We also value the donation of time and talent and thank all of the volunteers, including our Bank of America employees, who are so invested in these nonprofit causes and generously give their time, passion and expertise through volunteerism to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Helping our neighbors get back on their feet with the basics is a great way to build a foundation for success in Miami Dade County because the more people we are able to move toward financial stability, the better off our whole community is.

Sincerely,

Gene Schaefer
Miami Market President, Bank of America

October 13, 2016
By Zelalem Adefris

On September 20th, 2016, Catalyst Miami launched the inaugural session of CLEAR Miami (Community Leadership on the Environment, Advocacy, and Resilience). This training program was created in response to the challenges that Miami-Dade County residents will face as a result of climate change and sea level rise.

In the first month of the CLEAR Miami and CLEAR Miami Youth programs, the participants have learned about climate change, sea level rise, emergency preparedness, climate gentrification, and climate and health. Week after week, participants cite that the passion of their classmates, collective involvement, and the diversity of viewpoints represented in the discussions are among the greatest strengths of the class. Week after week, the facilitators are continually inspired by our participants’ motivation and readiness to act. Catalyst Miami is looking forward to see all that the participants accomplish in the remaining 8 weeks of the program and beyond.

CLEAR Miami is a 12-week program, with one 3-hour session occurring per week, no fee to participate, dinner provided at no cost, and a subsequent CLEAR Youth program provided at no cost.

Stay tuned for applications to the second program cohort. For more information contact Zelalem Adefris, Climate Resilience Program Manager, at [email protected] or 786-414-1300.

October 12, 2016
By Sharon Copeland

It's hard to get excited about taxes.

Taxes are complicated but everyone has to do them. Here are some common misconceptions you may have heard about doing your taxes. I'll break them down for you so you can feel confident this upcoming tax season.

Misconception 1: “I didn’t make much money last year so I won’t file”
Think again! Even if you are under the filing threshold you should still file as you may be eligible for credits which may result in a refund.

Misconception 2: “I was paid in cash so I don’t have to report my income”
Wrong! Income from all sources should be reported, including tips.

Misconception 3: “I was enrolled in school full time last year so I am entitled to education credits”
Maybe, however, the school must be an eligible educational institution and the expenses must be qualified education expenses, amongst other requirements.

Misconception 4: “It’s possible that I may owe this year so I don’t want to file”
Still file! It is important to file even if you will end up owing, because if you are entitled to a refund in the future, your refund check will be held until you have filed for all previous years.

Misconception 5: “My mortgage interest can be deducted so that I owe less taxes”
Somewhat, mortgage interest can only be deducted if you itemize expenses. However in many cases the standard deduction ends up being greater than the sum of your itemized deductions.

Misconception 6: "Once I’m retired I no longer have to pay taxes"
Wrong! If you are still receiving income, especially from investments, you may still owe taxes. On the bright side, you will get a larger standard deduction and will fall into a lower tax bracket.

Misconception 7: “I can do my taxes myself - that’s what the internet is for”
Perhaps, however our VITAS are passionate about what they do and are trained to get you back your maximum refund.

As part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Catalyst Miami prepare taxes at no cost for households that make under $64,000 annually. Want to learn how to become a VITA to help yourself and our clients straighten out these and even more tax misconceptions? You'll be helping Miami families get their greatest refund possible. Register at Tinyurl.com/vitamiami and come to our training sessions!

September 6, 2016
By Sarafina Robinson, guest writer

Memories become elusive with the passing of time. The clouding of memories occurs inevitably, yet some recollections remain etched in our minds for a lifetime. The moments we remember enable us to retell stories—allowing others the chance to peer into our past experiences. Amy could recall the time her mother sat her down to share stories about dinners she hosted for neighbors in their community. One neighbor would prepare a huge pot of rice while another brought over a homemade side-dish for everyone to share. Even when there were modest amounts of food, the warmth of community was felt by everyone there. These stories made an indelible impression on Amy. To Amy, her mother’s unadulterated effort to convene neighbors for dinner embodied the true essence of humanity. “Everyone would come together and eat,” Amy recalls. “Today, we have lost what the meaning of humanity is. We all need each other, and it is so hard to have people realize that in the long-run, but we all need each other.”

Amy has recognized the importance of fostering community and depending on others for quite some time. Upon moving to Miami, Florida from Connecticut in 2006, she unexpectedly lost her job in the midst of her mother and daughter experiencing debilitating health problems. She did not have the luxury of job flexibility, which would have provided her time off to take care of her family and adjust to a new city. Amy did what she could—balancing work with caretaking—for quite some time; however, she ultimately lost that job. “I went from having everything to having nothing,” she explained. With no consistent income and a limited social support network in South Florida, a downward spiral ensued and she and her family were led to seek housing assistance.

They moved into emergency shelter in Homestead, Florida for six months. Afterwards, Amy and her family moved into transitional housing where they resided for two years. This supportive housing model undoubtedly provided stability during an otherwise uncertain time in their lives.

Amy’s experience, wrought primarily by economic uncertainty, is something all too common for others who face periodic episodes of homelessness. According to statistics shared by Camillus House, an agency who provides a system of care for those experiencing homelessness, the majority of those experiencing homelessness in Miami-Dade County (83%) are homeless for a short stint and only need a rental subsidy to assist toward their journey of breaking the cycle of homelessness. Resources like transitional housing provide this type of support by linking families to employment services and community resources while simultaneously subsidizing their housing costs to ensure only thirty-percent of their income is spent on housing.

“Everyone has a story,” she explained. “You can be a blue collar banker, make $55,000 a year and then be out of a job the next year.” Amy realizes that it is easy for people to stigmatize homelessness—often not taking the invisible family or recently unemployed into consideration. This, in particular, has motivated her to educate others in her community about the state of homelessness while supporting those who have faced obstacles similar to those she experienced when transitioning to a new life in South Florida.

Today, Amy facilitates peer support groups for women and children residing in transitional housing. She has a career working with the formerly incarcerated to offer rehabilitative and community support services, and she serves on three nonprofit Boards specially focused on supporting affordable housing and healthy living initiatives in low-income communities. She said, “If I’ve changed one life, I know I have done a lot. If I have guided one person through their life, encouraged them, and have been a stepping stone…I consider that rewarding.”

Amy regularly attends meetings and keeps abreast of policy changes that impact the lives of those facing housing instability. Part of her success in advocating for others is directly linked to her relentless quest to remain knowledgeable about the resources and policies shaping the community in which she and her clients live. She has become a voice for the voiceless and someone others can count on because of her lived experience and passion for restoring the sense of humanity she feels has been lost. Amy, in her own way, provides the type of nurturance her mom offered through those communal dinners several years ago. She continues her mother’s legacy by working on behalf of those facing homelessness and providing safe spaces for people to share their own stories. When she meets a homeless person on the streets of Miami, she takes the time to get to know them. She often asks if they mind eating with her. If they agree, she finds her way to a nearby Publix to pick up two deli sandwiches—one for her and another for the person she has met. She goes back to sit next to the person, share lunch, and lend a listening ear.

After lending a listening ear, she will often mention, “No matter the obstacles you face in life, there is always another day.” She also reminds herself that helping others in need provides an opportunity for her to continuing moving forward while never forgetting the road she has travelled along the way.

Note: Guest writer Sarafina Robinson is an alumna of the Public Allies Miami program. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University and recently completed a Masters of Arts in Community Psychology. She currently works in the nonprofit sector in New Haven, CT.