Increased tax benefits available for low, moderate income families

Under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, more money is available to families and/or individuals with low to moderate incomes. Filing your taxes is how you can claim benefits like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Families can now receive an increased Child Tax Credit ($3,000 or $3,600, depending on child/dependents age), and more people with low incomes are eligible for a larger EITC.

“The Earned Income Tax Credit benefits families and communities by providing economic support and security for eligible workers with children,” said Orange County Vice Chair Jamezetta Bedford, who is a CPA and works at a local firm doing tax work for small businesses, trusts and estates, nonprofits and individuals. “These EITC dollars are returned to the local economy as residents use their tax credit to pay for necessities like food, rent, utilities, medical expenses, etc. The EITC especially benefits children and is aligned with higher educational and better health outcomes. Many of those eligible do not know to claim this benefit. This tax credit along with the child tax credit are important anti-poverty tools for families.”

Claiming the credit can reduce the tax you owe or give you a larger refund, and the amount of your credit may change if you have children or other dependents, are disabled or meet other criteria.

“The EITC is a great resource for these families,” said Orange County Department of Social Services Director Nancy Coston. “We encourage everyone who is eligible to claim the credit on their tax returns.”

Receiving these benefits will not impact eligibility for other federal benefits (UI, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, SDI, TANF, WIC, Section 8 or Public Housing). Even if you did not earn enough to file taxes, you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and potentially thousands of additional dollars in benefits.

Orange County Department of Social Services can offer access to computers and help taxpayers with navigating to the sites to file taxes online, but staff are prohibited from helping residents file taxes or providing tax advice. The Orange County Skills Development/Career Center (100 Europa Drive, Suite 101, Chapel Hill) and the Orange Works Employment and Training Center (113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough) have public computers available Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The deadline to file 2021 income taxes is Monday, April 18. For more information and to learn how to get free assistance with filing your taxes, visit www.ChildTaxCredit.gov.

Click here for a flyer on the EITC (English | Spanish)

We're excited to once again host our annual Egg Hunt. All of your favorite activities will be included such Egg Hunts, crafts, photos with the bunny, inflatables, and more. Register all household members who plan to attend at just $5 per household (must reside at the same residence). Bring your egg basket and come ready to have fun!

Details

Ages: All ages
Day/Date: Saturday, April 9
Register by: Monday, April 4
Fee: $5/household (must be from the same address)
Location: Central Recreation Center sports field behind building

Click the graphic for links to register.

OCAC, CJRD present Our Lens, Our Voice

The Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department in partnership with the Orange County Arts Commission announce the opening of Our Lens, Our Voice, a photography and emotional expression project that reframes and refocuses narratives of justice-impacted youth. The photography exhibit will open to the public on Friday, April 29th from 5-8pm at the Orange County Courthouse (106 E. Margaret Ln.) as part of Hillsborough’s Last Fridays ArtWalk. In addition to the exhibit, attendees will enjoy live music and spoken word artists.

In September 2020, Criminal Justice and the Arts Commission, together with photographer Emily Baxter and artivist Soteria Shepperson, created Our Lens, Our Voice, where justice-impacted youth used photography and poetry to create a series of anonymous photographs using meaningful words and phrases as prompts. All cameras and supplies were provided, thanks to the generosity of community members. The exhibit will feature the final photographs together with named emotional experiences by each participant.

Growing positive outcomes have led to creative expression becoming a more commonly used tool for engaging justice-involved individuals. A study by the California Department of Corrections showed six months after release, rates of parole violation for arts-in-corrections participants were 15 percent lower than nonparticipants; after two years, this difference climbed to 30 percent1. Seventy-five percent of program participants had fewer disciplinary infractions than nonparticipants.

Involvement in the arts is also critical for student outcomes. Students engaged in arts learning have higher GPAs and standardized test scores and are two times more likely to graduate college4. Low-income students who participate in the arts, both in school and after school, have a dropout rate of just 4 percent—five times lower than their peers. Participation in after-school arts programs causes juvenile crime to fall by 4.2 percent on average, and slightly more (5.4 percent) in lower-income cities.

Click here for information about the artists.

Orange County offers free tax help with 2021 Income Tax Returns

Orange County Department on Aging’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) is continuing to assist low and moderate-income taxpayers with tax preparation services. VITA services are free to those that have incomes below $70,000 for a single person or $100,000 for a household. The deadline for filing 2021 income taxes is now April 18, 2022.

We are offering a Valet Tax Preparation Service that will provide service for the remainder of March, ending the first week in April. Taxpayers with scheduled appointments, can bring in their tax documents and complete the intake paperwork at the Seymour Center (walk-in services are not available). Our VITA tax team members will scan and upload your documents and IRS-certified preparers will contact you by phone to prepare and electronically file your return. Appointments will be scheduled to sign and pick-up the completed returns.

Valet Days and Times (by appointment only):

Seymour Center – 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill:

Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (March 24, 31 and April 7)
Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (March 25 and April 1, 8)

Alternatively, if you have internet access, an active email account, and either a computer and scanner or a cell phone with a camera, you can participate in our Virtual VITA program. Check our website www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita or send an email to ocncvita@gmail.com for more information.

To schedule an appointment, call 919-245-4242 or schedule online using AppointmentPlus at www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita.

The Department on Aging is hosting a free virtual event April 5 for caregivers and seniors! Make a connection with mental health providers and find the support and help you need. REGISTRATION EXTENDED to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 1. Call 919-968-2087 to register!

Arts Commission, Housing Department present HOME? An Artistic Exploration of Housing in the Triangle

The Orange County Arts Commission, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development present "HOME? An Artistic Exploration of Housing in the Triangle," which seeks to showcase “home” through the eyes and words of working artists.

The exhibit features 100 works of art by 54 Triangle-based artists and will be on view through April, 2022 at the Eno Mill Gallery in Hillsborough.

The public is invited to a free Opening Party on Friday, April 1, from 6-9 p.m. featuring:

Selected written works on the theme of “home” by 16 Triangle-based writers
Live music with Soteria Shepperson
Open artist studios
Food trucks Yagg Sii Tenn (back by popular demand!) and Maple View Ice Cream
Beer from Red Oak Brewery
Kids’ activities with the Art Therapy Institute
Tabling with community housing organizations

Click here for more information, including a list of featured artists.

Register of Deeds to host Passport Fair on April 23

The Orange County Register of Deeds office will resume offering passport services fulltime beginning Monday, March 20. Hours of service will be from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The office will also host a passport fair on Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., walk-ins ONLY, at the office located at 228 S. Churton Street, Hillsborough.

For more information about what is required to obtain a passport, visit our website at https://www.orangecountync.gov/771/Passports or call (919) 245-2681.

The Register of Deeds now offers fraud alert protection service to provide email notifications whenever a document is recorded in the Register of Deeds office that matches your name. You can enter up to five names per email address. If a document is recorded in either of the names you submit, you will receive an email notifying you.
To sign up for the service, visit this website: https://fraudalertme.com/ORANGENCNW/FRAUDDETECTION.ASP.

Animal Services needs home for available dogs

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) needs to find homes for available dogs at the shelter. Recently, the number of dog adoptions at OCAS has decreased. The staff at OCAS report an increase in the length of stay for dogs at the shelter and the number of dogs is increasing.

“It is a little unusual for us to see a reduction in dog adoptions for an extended period of time,” said Orange County Animal Services Director, Dr. Sandra Strong. “The longer animals stay in our shelter, the more likely that they experience stress and anxiety. We do everything we can to provide enrichment and keep them comfortable, but dogs really need to be with families that can help them establish routines in a loving home environment. The home environment is where dogs can be social, thrive and settle into happy lives.”

Currently, you can “name your price” for adoptable, adult dogs and cats or take advantage of drastically reduced adoption fees for adoptable puppies and kittens as part of the Spring Adoption Special at OCAS. You do not need to be an Orange County resident to adopt a pet from OCAS. Adoption fees for dogs include: health screening, standard vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm testing (for dogs seven months and older) and heartworm preventative, spay or neuter surgery, microchip, and broad-spectrum deworming.

If anyone is interested in viewing available pets or adopting a dog, please visit www.orangecountync.gov/287/Available-Pets or visit the shelter to select your new best friend. You may also call the OCAS adoption desk at 919-942-7387, menu option 3, for more information.

Bluestem Conservation Burial ground webinar

Upcoming activities at the Orange County Senior Centers

Conversation Project Workshop PART I:
In small conversation groups, patterned after the Conversation Project, Project EngAGE End of Life Choices SRT members will coach participants how to engage their loved ones in end of life care conversations. Attendees will receive the Conversation Starter Kit from The Conversation Project and a free copy of The Five Wishes Booklet.

Passmore Center

Date: Tuesday, April 26 4-6 p.m.

Fee: FREE

Max in-person attendance: 12.
Register by: Friday, April 22 at 919-968-2070

www.orangecountync.gov