FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Being financially aware and empowered is a critical step to a healthier life. Our Financial Empowerment Hamilton initiative is a year-round, poverty-reduction program that supports people with a low income. The commitment to year-round service ensures people can access much-needed government benefits.
Did you know that it is estimated that approximately 10-12% of working-age adults in Canada, many of whom live below the poverty line, don’t file taxes? More than $1.7 billion in benefits went unclaimed (Robson & Schwartz, 2020). Another report estimated that more than 30% of Ontarians on social assistance weren’t filing taxes (Stapleton, 2018).
The program provides free, year-round financial problem-solving services including: help completing government forms to access benefits; financial literacy education; tax filing services; and system navigation.
This project is funded in part by the City of Hamilton
This project is funded in part by the United Way
References:
Robson, J., & Schwartz, S. (2020). Who Doesn’t File a Tax Return? A Portrait of Non-Filers. University of Toronto Press Journals. https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/cpp.2019-063
Stapleton, J. (2018). A Fortune Left On The Table: Why Should Low Income Adults Have To Pass Up On Govenment Benefits? Open Policy Ontario. https://openpolicyontario.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/06/informal-a-fortune-left-r3.pdf
WHO DO WE
WORK WITH?
In the Financial Empowerment Program, we work with persons or families living on less than $35,000 annually (single) or less than $45,000 (couple/family). We prioritize services for:
- People receiving OW, ODSP, OAS, CPP, GIS
- Seniors (aged 55+)
- Families with children under the age of 18
- Newcomers to Canada, living in Hamilton
- People who are accessing shelters or are living unhoused
Who Do We
Work With?
In the Financial Empowerment Program, we work with persons or families living on less than $35,000 annually (single) or less than $45,000 (couple/family). We prioritize services for:
- People receiving OW, ODSP, OAS, CPP, GIS
- Seniors (aged 55+)
- Families with children under the age of 18
- Newcomers to Canada, living in Hamilton
- People who are accessing shelters or are living unhoused
OUR UNIQUE ELEMENTS
There are some unique supports that we offer:
- Services are available in English, Arabic and Kurdish.
- Taxes are filed all year round; most volunteer clinics only operate during the weeks of the tax season.
- Our program completes up to 10 years of prior tax filing.
- All persons who do the filing are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP).
HOW TO CONNECT WITH US
We have a dedicated intake system with a number of community organizations that allow us to fast-track your tax filing services. These community organizations include Wesley, YWCA, Immigrant Women’s Centre, City of Hamilton, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program, and the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre.
If you are already involved with any of these services, please complete an intake form with your worker.
If you are not involved with any of the above programs, please call us at 365-366-1767.
Services are provided over the phone, and, when available, through in-person community clinics.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY
Find out what benefits you may be able to receive through the Government of Canada Benefits Finder. THIS DOES NOT COLLECT OR TRACK YOUR INFORMATION. Rather, it helps you learn more about possibilities for you and your family. The more questions you answer, the more customized your results will be.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY
Find out what benefits you may be able to receive through the Government of Canada Benefits Finder. THIS DOES NOT COLLECT OR TRACK YOUR INFORMATION. Rather, it helps you learn more about possibilities for you and your family. The more questions you answer, the more customized your results will be.