Dear Friends,
This Friday, we have a wonderful speaker for you to hear at our first annual United to End Homelessness Symposium. I will have the honor of interviewing author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Matthew Desmond. His book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, was named one of Time’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade. It was also hailed by Bill Gates: “Desmond has written a brilliant portrait of Americans living in poverty. He gave me a better sense of what it is like to be poor in this country than anything else I have read.”
Following a Q&A session with Dr. Desmond, Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times (PCBT), will moderate a local panel of public and private sector leaders to continue the conversation.
Symposium panelists include Julia Brownley, U.S. representative (CA-26); Mike Powers, CEO, County of Ventura; Henry Stern, California state senator (SD-27); Nancy Grygiel, senior vice president and chief compliance officer, Amgen; Emilio Ramirez, housing director, City of Oxnard; and Amy Duganne, director, homelessness initiatives, United Way of Ventura County.
Please Join us on April 9, 2021, from 9-11 a.m. for this important and necessary discussion on homelessness as part of United Way of Ventura County’s United to End Homelessness initiative.
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In service,
Eric Harrison
President & CEO
United Way of Ventura County
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Advocate.
You can make change happen with your voice. United Way needs people who are passionate about education, income, and health to make some noise. To stay informed, visit vcunitedway.org/advocate. To become involved in our advocacy work, email info@vcunitedway.org
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United to End Homelessness Symposium
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program
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Free tax preparation and filing services continue through May 17
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There is still time to have your tax returns prepared by the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program as the filing deadline has been extended to May 17, 2021. Don’t pay for tax prep services, instead let a trained VITA volunteer prepare your return, help you access the tax credits you’re eligible for, and SAVE you money. Free tax preparation and filing is available for households earning up to $57,000 in 2020. Prior year returns may also be filed.
Due to COVID-19, taxes will only be prepared using either a virtual or drop-off process. There will be no face-to-face appointments with a tax preparation volunteer, as all sites remain closed.
For those who would like to prepare their tax returns on their own, visit www.MyFreeTaxes.org and click on the “On My Own” option. After providing the basic information requested, taxpayers will receive an email from MyFreeTaxes.com with a link and instructions on how to proceed to complete their tax return free of charge. There is no income limit. New this year, eligible workers with an ITIN and income under $30,000 may now claim the CalEITC. Self-employed workers with 1099 forms and cash earnings also qualify.
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CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program Now Available to Income Eligible Households
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Rent relief is now available to income eligible households who need financial assistance for unpaid rent and utilities through the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program. If you have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19, have past due rent or utilities, and have a household income that is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), you may be eligible to receive help to pay past due or future rent and utilities from the state of California.
Landlords and renters can verify eligibility immediately by visiting HousingIsKey.com or by calling 833.430.2122.
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LIVE United! Volunteer and Make
a Difference Today!
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April is Global Volunteer Month! From all of us at United Way, we want to send a big thank you to each and every one of our volunteers for their service and commitment to our community. Whether you volunteer once a week or once a year, we sincerely appreciate the help and kindness you provide to folks throughout our community.
In the spirit of volunteerism, this month is an especially great opportunity to get involved! United Way’s Volunteer Ventura County (VVC) center is a great resource to connect with volunteer opportunities. VVC partners with more than 250 community organizations in Ventura County that post their needs for folks to view and respond to. There are a variety of causes and opportunities to connect with – from helping with COVID-19 rapid response and recovery, to youth, performing arts, families, and more!
Current featured volunteer opportunities include:
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Community Impact Volunteer Spotlight:
Lisa Marie Tracy
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“When I saw a volunteer opportunity where I could help provide home goods which could make moving into a new place easier, I jumped at it! The feeling of being at home takes so many things, but if I could help with one aspect of that then that’s what I wanted to do. During these times it is sometimes hard to feel comforted, so my family went out shopping to try and help make that happen for another family. It’s all about giving back when you are able and that’s what I’m trying to pass on to my kids!” – Lisa Marie Tracy
United Way of Ventura County’s Landlord Engagement Program is creating Welcome Home Baskets for families, veterans, seniors, and individuals once they have been housed in their new home. Join us and complete a basket that will provide essential household supplies for folks to make it a home of their own.
To learn more about providing a Welcome Home Basket for a recently housed neighbor, contact AmeriCorps VIP Fellow, Francesca DeMatto at francesca.dematto@vcunitedway.org or register on VVC here. For more information or to learn more about the Landlord Engagement Program, contact director of homelessness initiatives, Amy Duganne at 805.485.6288, x228 or amy.duganne@vcunitedway.org.
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Mentors Needed for Women United Education Award Recipients
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Women United is seeking potential mentors in professional positions who would like to guide a single mom who is pursuing a college education to reach her career goals. This year, five new recipients of the Women United Education Award are looking to work with mentors who will guide, encourage, and support them in their professional journeys. The career goals of the students looking to be matched are in the following fields:
- Accounting and Finance
- College Counseling
- Entrepreneurship
- Healthcare Administration
- Law
Serving as a mentor is a unique and rewarding experience. Your leadership skills will be enhanced and the guidance you provide will positively impact the life of a single mother pursuing her higher education and career goals. This opportunity will provide a valuable experience for both the mentor and mentee.
Proficiency in the listed fields is not a requirement to serve as a mentor. Anyone who has professional experience in a business environment and is willing to share their knowledge with a mentee is encouraged to become a mentor.
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Participate in the Fair Pay for Southern California Nonprofits Survey
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Attract and retain the best employees for your organization in 2021 and beyond by participating in Fair Pay for Southern California Nonprofits 2021 Compensation & Benefits Survey.
United Way of Ventura County is proud to serve as a regional partner for the Nonprofit Compensation Associates’ 2021 compensation and benefits survey, Fair Pay for Southern California Nonprofits.
With an eleven-year track record in Northern California, the Nonprofit Compensation Associates is launching their first survey for Southern California nonprofit organizations.
2021 promises to be a year unlike any other as nonprofit managers continue to navigate the challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey provides a wealth of information to help nonprofits manage through these uncertain times, including base pay, bonus/incentive pay, employee benefits, salary increases, and a wide variety of personnel policies.
The survey covers these ten Southern California counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
Participation deadline: April 23, 2021
Report publication date: Late May 2021
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Covered California Open Enrollment Through May 15!
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The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced a special enrollment period allowing Americans the opportunity to purchase health insurance during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, anyone needing coverage may purchase through Covered California until May 15, 2021. Both federal and state financial assistance to reduce the cost of health insurance is available for eligible consumers.
Please note: As a result of social distancing requirements, there are no walk-in appointments available. All appointments will be by phone only.
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TEXT TO GIVE!
Did you know that United Way of Ventura County has gone mobile? Make a $10 donation to the United Way’s Community Impact Fund using your cellphone. Your donation counts! Simply text the keyword UWVC to 91999. Standard message & data rates apply.
SPREAD THE WORD!
Forward this e-newsletter
You can LIVE UNITED by helping us spread the word. Imagine how many people we could reach if everyone forwards this newsletter to five people.
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