THE VOICE -- March 2010
The Newspaper of Neighborhood House
Feb. 1, 1960 is a very important day in civil rights history. On this date, four African American college students in Greensboro, North Carolina sat down at a lunch counter in Woolworth’s, which didn’t serve blacks.
Although they were not served lunch on this day, similar non-violent protests ignited across the south, and six month later, the original four students were finally served lunch.
The event is comparable to Rosa Parks sitting in the front seat of a public bus, something African-Americans were forbidden to do in many places.
The 50th anniversary of this important action by youth inspired the Hidmo Community Empowerment Project, with support from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, to hold an event called the State of the Youth Address, at Garfield Community Center.
An intergenerational audience of 100
people attended to hear a panel of young
people from youth-led organizations from
Central and South Seattle talk about issues
from their perspective.
In a break-out session, small groups
from the audience discussed topics that
concerned them, with older adults being
encouraged to allow the young people to
do most of the speaking.
Jason Davison, one of the organizers of
the event said, “it was a great success from
the diversity of panelists and youth participants
who were able to come together with
residents and share their perspective. … It
is a rare thing to see so much diversity in
one room.”
The room featured a display called the
Clothesline Project. T-Shirts which were
decorated with anti-violence slogans and
graphics were hung from a clothesline.
Lulu Carpenter, an organizer, said that
the idea for this project came from a project
at Washington State University that she and
Rahwa Habte of the HIDMO CEP were
involved in.
It was part of an event called A Week
Without Violence. Women were encouraged to write on T-Shirts about violence
and the way it affected them.
This project was adapted to address
violence and the concerns of youth in the
Central District. Carpenter said “it was
a great way for people to begin talking
before the forum, and a great way to heal
through art.”
Even though the concerns of youth may
seem very frightening to people, such as
the young lives lost to incarceration or even
violent death, many of the things talked about at the forum are the kinds of issues
that have been affecting youth for many
generations.
Many mentioned needing someone to
care about them and listen to their concerns
about everyday life. When the subject of
youth mentors came up, some of the youth
mentioned they could tell the difference
if someone was just acting as a mentor
because they were paid by an agency, or if
they really cared.
Almost all of the young people mentioned
the lack of youth space and safe
places to hang out and be with other young
people as extremely important.
Geneivieve Arunga of Umojafest Peace
Center mentioned the fact that just the price
of renting space at community centers was
a barrier for low-income youth.
But she also described an exciting program
called the Youth Stakeholders Program,
which Umojafest has going. It
emphasizes providing a positive culture
for youth to work in, and includes writing
groups and a program on exploring career
opportunities in Hip Hop Music.
“Educate and Elevate,” she said is the
goal of her program. Indeed, it seemed that
the youth forum had this theme front and
center all evening!
By Lisa Wood
SHA Resident
“This is my first time here,” Curtis Coleman
shared with me over our sandwiches. “It’s been exhilarating, thrilling and worthwhile
to see people who are interested in
helping people who are less fortunate.”
Coleman was discussing with me his first
trip to Olympia for Housing and Homeless
Advocacy Day, held Feb. 12 this year.
Coleman and his wife currently reside
in a local transitional dwelling in Seattle,
and he feels very fortunate to have what
he’s got. He shared with me that “there are
people who are way less fortunate than me
and I will go home tonight and go out and
do outreach with my church.”
Coleman said his day started with a bus ride to Olympia, alongside a variety of
people doing all different levels of advocacy
work: some with organizations, some homeless,
some currently not homeless and some
involved for spiritual reasons.
He was almost left speechless when at
early morning meetings he was guided and
directed in how to talk with the legislators
and senators to get his voice heard.
He learned about the One Night Count,conducted during the early morning of Friday
Jan. 29, which counted a total of 6,246
people living on the streets of Seattle and
surrounding areas.
Armed with those facts and his desire to
want to make a difference and be a voice
for the voiceless, he was completely prepared
to go speak to those who made the
decisions about how to help the homeless
in his community.
Elizabeth Maupin has been to Housing
and Homeless Advocacy Day for three
years in a row now.
“Affordable housing is in short supply
in my area and the lack of affordable
housing is the reason for homelessness in
Issaquah,” she said.
Maupin is co-coordinator for the Inner
Faith Coalition, a faith-based nonprofit
organization devoted to maintaining a
safety net for those without housing, or for
whom housing is unstable. She described
the work as “solution-based” support.
Upon learning that there were 6,700
seniors on the waiting list in Washington
for affordable housing, Maupin said she
is personally involved with the homeless
because “they are my brothers and sisters.
But for the grace of God go I.”
Coleman and the others who got to
speak with people that represented the
11th District said that they truly felt that
their voices had been heard. Coleman
and others urged their legislators to pass
HB 3177 and SB 6817, which concern the
Housing Trust Fund program.
Given the opportunity to express how
very important it is to each and every one
of them that these actions be taken, the
group said it truly felt like their mission
was accomplished.
As we boarded the bus, Coleman said,
“Oh I will definitely be back next year and
I will let my voice be heard.”
How to lend support when someone you know has cancer
By Pam McGaffin
Special to The Voice
Support from family and friends is
critical to cancer patients going through
treatment, but what should that support
look like? Many of us worry we won’t
know what to say or do, or worse, that
we’ll do the wrong thing.
A survey by Cancer Treatment Centers
of America found that friends and
family offer primary support for people
diagnosed with cancer. According to the
2003 survey, only 1 percent of male and
4 percent of female cancer patients turned
to organized support groups as their main
source of support.
“When people are diagnosed with
cancer, support from friends and family
is often the key to helping them endure
the rigorous medical treatments and emotional
stress that may accompany their
diagnosis,” says Robin Adler, director of
mind-body medicine at Seattle Cancer
Treatment and Wellness Center. “Most
people want to offer that support, but
they’re at a loss for exactly what to do or
where to begin.”
At the clinic, Adler counsels patients
and their families, leads support and
relaxation groups, provides communityeducation
workshops and links patients
to needed resources in the community.
She says friends and family can help by
keeping lines of communication open and
being a stable and reliable source of support
in the midst of change.
Here are her tips for friends and family
who want to help but aren’t sure how:
• Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to do
or say “the right” things, just be sincere
in your desire to lend a hand.
• Listen. Sometimes it’s better to be patient
and listen than to start a conversation.
Remember to talk about all the things you
used to talk about before cancer.
• Honestly share your feelings of fear,
anger or sadness, but try not to overburden
your friend or loved one. If you need to,
take time for yourself.
• Provide stability. Help your friend
with cancer adjust to new routines while
continuing as many regular activities as
possible to maintain a sense of normalcy.
Assure your friend that he or she can
depend on you.
• Adapt to changing roles. While it’s
important for a person with cancer to keep
a routine, understand that family dynamics
might change. For example, one parent
might have to take on more childcare duty.
Respond with practical solutions, like
organizing help from friends.
• If a friend has cancer, ask him or her
for suggestions on how to help. If your
friend is getting many such requests, offer
to coordinate efforts. Be alert to your
friend’s needs – be it childcare or house
cleaning – and remember that some people
have a hard time asking for help.
• Be prepared to communicate with
health care professionals. Dealing with
the health care system can be confusing,
intimidating and time-consuming. Your
loved one may appreciate your stepping
up. Begin by educating yourself about
the patient’s condition. When you meet
with health practitioners, bring a list of
questions, ask for clarification and be appropriately
assertive.
• Help a cancer patient feel in control.
Let them decide for themselves if they’re
too weak to clean the house, cook dinner
or go out.
• Spend time with your friend. Just having
you there can be comfort enough.
• Remember to take care of yourself.
Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise and
take part in enjoyable activities. Find your
own emotional support from friends, coworkers,
your church, support groups a
professional counselor.
By Pamela Wilcox
SHA Resident
They’re tiny, persistent and bloodthirsty — and many people don’t even know they have them.
Bedbugs — and how to kill them — were
on the agenda of the Jan. 21 meeting of the
Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
(SKCCH).
At the January meeting, Dave Hickok
of Public Health – Seattle & King County
and Heather Barr of the Healthcare for the
Homeless Network presented information
on the current bedbug scourge and how to
treat the problem.
Bedbugs have been a major problem
since at least the 1930s, when they were the
No. 1 pest, according to Hickok and Barr.
In the 1950s, the use of the pesticide DDT
helped eradicate them. However, the use
of DDT was banned in the United States
in 1972 as it became recognized as a major
environmental toxin.
Today, the top reason for exploding bedbug
populations is that people don’t realize
that they have them, Hickok said. Their
bites are commonly mistaken for mosquito
or flea bites, and some people don’t even
exhibit a reaction to bedbug bites — no
red welts or identifying marks develop on
the skin.
Because bedbugs are reclusive and
nocturnal, most people won’t notice them
unless they know to look for them.
This is particularly troubling, because
bedbugs must be caught early — one female
can lay nearly 32,000 eggs in six months.
In a struggling economy, the increase in
the use of secondhand clothing and furniture
compounds the problem. Bedbugs like
to stow away in secondhand items, moving
from one infested house or apartment to
another.
Landlord and tenant duties
Given the extent of the problem, what
responsibilities do tenants and landlords
have to keep bedbugs at bay?
According to the state’s Residential
Landlord Tenant Act, the landlord must provide “a reasonable program for the control
of infestation by insects, rodents and other
pests at the initiation of the tenancy and,
except in the case of a single family residence,
control infestation during tenancy
except where such infestation is caused by
the tenant.”
It is the tenant’s duty to report bedbugs
as soon as you realize you have them, and to
help in preparations to get rid of them.
The New York State Integrated Pest Management
program Web site at www.nysipm.cornell.edu has detailed information on how
to treat bedbug infestations. Though some
of the information is specific to prevention
in shelters and group living facilities, it is
a helpful starting point for anyone wanting
to learn more about bedbugs.
Seattle Housing has taken steps to control
bedbugs. The housing authority has
brought in a dog that can detect bedbugs and
hired three extra staff to focus on the problem.
SHA has provided mattress covers and
bedbug traps to residents in buildings wheress covers and landlord and tenant duties bedbug traps to residents in buildings where infestations are a problem.
What is the situation like for other
tenants in Seattle and around the state?
According to the Tenants Union of
Washington State, they have received
many complaints about bedbugs in recent
months. Common concerns include
landlords who are slow to respond to an
infestation or who apply cheap, toxic or
ineffective treatments.
The Tenants Union recommends that
tenants watch out for landlords who try
to charge them for bedbug extermination,
especially if there have been multiple
cases within a building.
Bedbugs and your pets
What about pets? There are conflicting
reports about whether bedbugs will
feed on dogs and cats.
At the SKCCH meeting I spoke with
Sarah Magyar, who lives in Columbia
City’s Lilac Lodge, a Southeast Effective
Development (SEED) property. She said
that her dog’s veterinarian prescribed an
anti-parasitic that deters bedbugs from
feeding on her dog.
A resident of Denny Terrace also
recommended Frontline, an anti-flea
medication applied to the base of a pet’s
neck. It is best to ask a veterinarian about
the best course of treatment.
Most importantly, if you think you
have a bedbug problem, get help immediately.
Trying to go it alone against
bedbugs can be ineffective, or even
make the problem worse. Do not try
a do-it-yourself remedy; first notify
your building manager that you have a
problem. Then leave the extermination
to the experts.
Scammers and con artists often wear sheep’s clothes
A couple of weeks ago I was returning home from lunch with my father, when I encountered a woman who claimed to be from the IRS. She claimed that my landlord had a dispute with the IRS and the IRS was going to put a lien on his property. I would have to pay half of my rent to the IRS instead of my landlord. She showed me ID and gave me her card. Her car had federal license plates.
I was suspicious. I told her I was going to check her out to make sure she was legitimate. Anyone can make up a bunch of business cards, create a fake ID and a really clever con artist could figure out a way to get license plates that at least looked real. I did check her out. I spoke to my landlord and I put a call into the IRS. I looked the number up on the web, I did not use the number she gave me. It turns out she is the real thing.
Con artists are very good at sounding legitimate — they call you up or knock on your door and present you with identification that looks real, but isn’t always legitimate. There are ways to protect yourself from this kind of fraud.
Before you give anybody any money or allow him or her in your home, check the person out. Call the agency or business he or she claims to be from. Confirm that he or she is who and what he or she claims to be. Do not use the contact information the person in question gave you. That contact is just going to confirm whatever the suspect told you. Instead look up the phone number or Web site on your own.
If the person is legitimate, he or she will not mind having their stories checked out. If you write out a check to a con artist, you may be risking more than just a few dollars. Once the suspect gets hold of your routing and account numbers (these can be found at the bottom of the check), the suspect will have access to information that can be used to drain your bank account.
Many people in public housing may think they are not likely to be victims of fraud or identity theft. This is not the case. You can still be a victim. So protect yourself. Don’t just accept the word of a stranger who claims that you owe them money. Don’t hand over personal and financial information to someone you don’t know is legitimate.
Kelly McKinney (206-323-7084) and Allan Davis (206-323-7094) are Community Educators for Seattle Neighborhood Group. Call them for crime prevention information and assistance.
Garden tips for community gardeners
By Anza Muenchow
Special to The Voice
Germination is the sprouting of a seed to create a new plant. With such an early, beautiful spring, germination is happening all around us outdoors. How can we gardeners improve the germination of the seeds we plant?
All seeds have specific requirements for germination — temperature, water and air primarily. For the best results in your kitchen garden, here are some suggestions for early cool season crops.
First, let me suggest sprouting some delicious parsley in your garden. Parsley seeds want a chill period, maybe a couple of weeks of cold, near freezing temperature. This is easily accomplished when you plant parsley seeds outside in January or February.
They will then sprout when the soil warms in March. If you haven’t planted parsley yet, you may want to put the seed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a couple weeks before planting. The seed takes weeks to sprout, unlike the Brassica seeds which germinate in three to five days.
Peas and favas are amazing in that they germinate in such cold soils. Planting on Presidents Day seems early, but not this year. I’ve seen gardens with peas up already. Some people like to soak their seeds before planting, hoping to speed up the germination.
This works well for large seeded crops like peas and beans, but don’t soak more than a couple hours. Seeds really need air to germinate, and they could just rot if they don’t have enough air. That is why soggy soil is not good for germination.
Using inoculant (freeze dried, nitrogen fixing bacteria) when planting legume crops like peas and beans works well for boosting growth, but doesn’t actually help with germination.
How warm does the soil have to be to plant outside? Most of the early season crops like Brassicas (radish, kale, turnip, broccoli, cabbage, arugula, bok choy, etc.), lettuce, spinach and beets can germinate in soils 45 degrees and will tolerate soil temps up to about 65 degrees. The optimal temperature is about 55 degrees, but remember the soil temp is not the same as the air temperature. Take off your gloves and feel the soil on a sunny day on the south face of your raised beds. It may actually be warm, though the cool breeze keeps you wrapped in a winter jacket.
Spinach likes at least 50 degrees — just remember that you can plant your spinach when you see dandelions blooming in your garden, assuming you haven’t weeded them all out during the winter. Carrots like it slightly warmer, so wait another two weeks to plant them.
Be aware that the soil can also be too warm for germination. That might explain why you can’t get a good lettuce crop started in August. Seeds have a thermal range of optimal germination. The different seed varieties may vary too, so check your seed catalogues and get to know the seed suppliers for the optimal germination temperatures.
How deeply do you plant the seeds? The rule of thumb is to plant twice the diameter of the seed. Of course large seeds can be deeper than small ones. But don’t let the seeds dry out ever. Carrots and dill especially like to see some light through the soil to germinate.
That is why I enjoy using floating row cover for my seed beds. These lightweight garden blankets warm the soil a couple degrees while controlling the moisture by not allowing the wind to dry things out. Consider keeping a few used pieces of row cover around for whenever you seed a bed. It will keep birds from eating the seeds too.
The seeding of warm season crops (squash, beans, corn) will be during May, when the soil is regularly above 60 degrees and often more than 80 degrees. I’ll discuss those seed requirements in the next garden column. Because tomatoes, peppers and eggplant take so long to make fruit after planting, we have to start them in special greenhouse conditions to germinate the seeds and then transplant them out later.
Another method for early harvests of leafy spring crops is to use transplants. You can buy them at high prices in plant stores or start your own indoors about six weeks before the last frost date (usually April 15, but probably earlier this year).
Young plants can grow in lower temperatures than those in which the seeds can germinate.
Just make sure to keep the soil moist and you’ll have lots of transplants. Have a wonderful spring!
Anza Muenchow is a farmer and a volunteer with P-Patch. You can reach her by e-mail at anzam@whidbey.net, or online at www.mahafarm.com.
The Voice welcomes your feedback. Send your letters by e-mail to tylerr@nhwa.org, or by regular mail to: Neighborhood House The Voice
905 Spruce St., Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98104
Letters may be edited for length. For more information, contact Tyler Roush, Voice editor, at 206-4618430, ext. 227.
It comes every year: the time to review your annual earnings and file a tax return with the Internal Revenue
Service. Fortunately, there are resources available for low-income individuals and families to make the annual tax chore a breeze. Read on for more information about free tax prep sites, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and information on the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit.
If your household made less than $50,000 last year, you’re eligible to receive free assistance in preparing your tax return through United War of King County’s Free Tax Prep Campaign.
Help is available through April 15 at several sites throughout Seattle and King County. You don’t need to make an appointment, but because demand is high and tax prep sites can be very crowded, arrive early to ensure you can be served as soon as possible.
The multilingual volunteers who provide tax help have been certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Don’t show up at a tax prep site empty-handed. You’ll need to bring with you:
• Any W-2 form, 1099 forms, and other end-of-the-year income statements that you received from all of your employers and sources of income
• A copy of last year’s tax return, if you have it
• Social Security card number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and birthdates for every person to be claimed on your tax return
• Childcare provider name, address, and tax ID number
• Anything else you think might affect your return, even if you’re not sure• If you want your refund deposited directly into your bank account, you’ll need to bring your bank account number
For more information about free tax prep assistance, please call 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-9274 or go to unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxhelp.
Below is a list of free tax prep sites operated by the United Way of King County. Services available in languages besides English are listed in parenthesis.
Seattle
Beacon Hill
El Centro de la Raza
2524 16th Ave. S.
5 – 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (Spanish)
and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
Central District
Yesler Community Center
917 E. Yesler Way
5 – 9 p.m. Thursdays
and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturdays
Downtown
Express Credit Union
1741 Fourth Ave. S.
6 – 9 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturdays
Seattle Public Library
1000 Fourth Ave.
Noon – 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays
Noon – 4 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish and
Chinese)
and 1 – 5 p.m. Sundays (Chinese)
Auburn
Auburn Valley YMCA
1620 Perimeter Road S.W.
6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish)
Noon to 4 p.m. Sundays
Bellevue
Hopelink
14812 Main St.
1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays (Russian)
1 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (Spanish)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Russian/Chinese)
Crossroads Mall
15600 N.E. Eighth
5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays (Spanish/Russian)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish/Russian)
Federal Way
Multi-Service Center
1200 S. 336th St.
5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Kent
Washington Women’s Employment and Education Center
515 W. Harrison St.
5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays (Vietnamese)
1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays (Vietnamese)
SeaTac
SeaTac Airport, Airport Jobs Office
Take Elevator 1 from the ticket counter level to level M
5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
The Village at Angle Lake Community Services Building
4040 S. 188th St.
6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays (Spanish)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
Shoreline
Hopelink
15809 Westminster Way N.
(Next to Marshall’s in the Aurora Square Plaza)
5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
White Center
White Center Assembly
10237 16th Ave. S.W.
5 to 9 p.m. (Samoan)
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays (Samoan)
YWCA Greenbridge
9720 Eighth Ave. S.W.
5 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays (Spanish)
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays (Spanish)
By Craig Grella
SHA Resident
President Obama’s Worker, Homeowner-ship and Businesses Assistance Act of 2009 included a tax credit for first-time home buyers as a way to help stimulate the ailing economy. In November 2009, the tax credit was expanded to include not only first-time homebuyers but also existing owners purchasing new homes.
The plan gives buyers a tax credit of 10 percent of the purchase price of the home up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for those who have had ownership in a home over the past three years.
For example, a home purchased at $200,000 would give you the full $8,000 credit. Ten percent of $200,000 is $20,000, which is more than the maximum credit of $8,000. A home purchased at $60,000
would offer a $6,000 credit. A tax credit gives you a dollar for dollar reduction in the amount of income tax you owe the government in any particular year, regardless of your tax bracket. Tax credits are different, and more desirable, than tax deductions which serve only to reduce the amount of your taxable income, from which your actual federal tax due is calculated.
For example, if in 2009 you received wages of $35,000 (gross income) and fall into the 28 percent tax bracket, your approximate tax due would be $9,800 (28 percent X $35,000 = $9,800). A tax credit of $8,000 would reduce your tax due to only $1,800.
On the other hand, a tax deduction of $8,000 would reduce your taxable income of $35,000 to $27,000. Your taxes would then be calculated on that lowered gross income figure. Twenty-eight percent of $27,000 yields a tax due of $7,560. The tax credit saves you $5,700 more than the tax deduction.
Qualifying for the tax credit is relatively easy and there are only a few guidelines which need to be met in order to be eligible:
• The buyer must be at least 18 years of age
• The home must be used as a primary residence
• The home must not be more than $800,000 in price; and
• Your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $125,000, or $250,000 if you are married and filing taxes jointly.
A partial credit can be extended to buyers who make up to $20,000 more than the income limits listed above, or between $125,000 and $145,000 for individuals or between $250,000 and $270,000 for those who are married and filing jointly. The tax credit is phased out and unavailable for buyers with income levels above those maximum numbers.
Claiming the tax credit requires completion of just one form, IRS form 5405, which can be filed with your Federal Income Tax Return (IRS Form 1040). That form is available online at www.irs.gov.
You'll also need to supply a copy of your purchase settlement statement, known as a HUD-1, which is provided by your lender or title company at the close of the purchase transaction. If you purchased a qualified home in previous years but did not claim the credit you may be able to file an adjusted return. A qualified CPA should be able to guide you in the right direction.
Either way you'll have to act fast if you
want to tap into the home buyer tax credit
this year. Under the expanded plan, buyers
must be in contract to purchase a home
by April 30 and close by June 30 of this
year. For members of the armed forces and
certain other federal employees serving
outside the United States., those deadlines
are extended by one year to April 30, 2011
and June 30, 2011.
Information for this report was compiled
the Internal Revenue Service’s newsroom
article “First-Time Homebuyer Credit
Questions and Answers: Basic Information.”
Federal income tax returns are due by April 15, and as you’re filing taxes, you may want to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Low-income working individuals and their families may be eligible to receive a tax refund between $457 and $5,657 if they apply for EITC.
Eligibility
To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you didn’t earn enough money to be obligated to file a tax return.
You may be eligible for the EITC if:
• You have three or more children and earned less than $43,279 (or $48,279 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009
• You have two children and earned less than $40,295 (or $45,295 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009
• You have one child and earned less than $35,463 (or $40,463 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009
• You do not have children and earned less than $13,440 (or $18,440 if married and filing a joint return) in 2009
In addition, you must have no more than $3,100 in investment income for the year, and you must have a valid Social Security Number.
If you are filing a joint return, your spouse also must have a valid Social Security Number, and all qualifying children you use to claim the EITC also must have valid Social Security Numbers. New for the 2009 tax year, qualifying children must be younger than the taxpayer claiming the child (unless the child is disabled), and the qualifying child must not have filed a joint return except to claim a refund.
In order to qualify, you cannot file your taxes under the “married and filing separately” status. The EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits.
In most cases, EITC will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments.
EITC History
Congress originally approved the
tax credit in 1975 as a way to offset
the burden of Social Security taxes on low-income people and to provide an incentive to work.
When the EITC is more than the amount of taxes that you owe, you will get a tax refund if you claim and qualify for the credit.
Organ, eye and tissue donation can save lives
Donate Life Today maintains confidential donor registry for Washington
By Donate Life Today
Special to The Voice
More than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life saving organ transplant, including more than 1,600 of our Northwest neighbors. Ethnic minorities in particular are facing a public health crisis and are in desperate need of more organ, eye and tissue donors.
Ethnic minorities make up more than 30 percent of the US population but comprise 53 percent of individuals on the national organ transplant waiting list. This disparity happens for a number of reasons. For one, many of the conditions leading to the need for a transplant-such as diabetes and hypertension-occur with greater frequency in communities of color.
Although it is possible for a patient to match a donor from another ethnic group, transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of a similar ethnic background. The lack of donated organs in communities of color can be contributed to higher death rates and longer waiting periods for transplantation.
Kaden was diagnosed with a very
rare liver disease called Progressive Familial
Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 2,
just after his first birthday. This disease
impairs the liver, causing it to harden and
fail. In November of 2006, Kaden was
placed on the United Network of Organ
Sharing (UNOS) transplant waiting
list. One month later, Kaden received a
liver transplant from a deceased donor.
It was a complete success! The teams of
doctors were amazed at Kaden’s swift
recovery.
Since his liver transplant, Kaden has
transformed into a very healthy 4-year-old
little man. He is running, walking,
climbing and talking. He is full of energy
and full of life. Kaden’s parents are so
grateful to the donor family, whose
generosity in their darkest hour saved
Kaden.
“We want to thank the donor family
from the bottom of our hearts. Without
their compassion and kindness, we
would not have our precious little boy.
Kaden has his own Guardian Angel now
and we will never forget the life lost and
the gift that was given to Kaden,” they
said.
One organ, eye and tissue donor
can save or enhance the lives of more
than 50 people. Unfortunately there is
a misperception that ethnic minorities
do not have equal access to organ transplants,
which contributes to the crisis.
The fact is UNOS regulates the strict
federal, regional and local system to
ensure ethical and equitable distribution
of donated organs.
In addition, many people are unaware
that most religions support donation as
one of the highest expressions of compassion
and generosity.
Donate Life Today is the organ, eye
and tissue donor registry in Washington,
a confidential database of donation registrations
to be accessed and carried out
only at the time of death.
Register today at
www.DonateLifeToday.com or say “yes”
to the heart on your driver’s license.
You may also call 1-877-275-5269 for
additional information and to request a
brochure. Please talk with your family
and friends about your decision to donate.
Together we can save lives.
CLASSIFIEDS
THE MARKETPLACE OF THE VOICE
INVITATION TO BID
Seattle Housing Authority – Lake City Village
Andersen Construction is soliciting bids for Sitework and Structural Concrete from qualified subcontractors on the above referenced project.
Bid Date: March 15th at 2:00 PM
Pre-Bid Meeting Onsite March 2nd, 2010 10:00 AM
All parties interested should register as a bidder at www.bxwa.com. Choose Posted Projects/General Contractor Project Areas/Washington/ Andersen/Projects Bidding/Lake City Village. Documents are also available for review at the Andersen office and The CDCC at 105 14th Ave Suite 3C, Seattle WA.
Project Contact: Jerrod Kowalewski – jkowalewski@andersen-const.com
Andersen Construction Company, Inc
228 SOUTH MEAD STREET SEATTLE, WA 98108
206.763.6712 (PH) 206.763.6710 (FAX)
We are an equal opportunity employer and request Qualifications from all interested firms, Including emerging small business, women-owned, disadvantaged and minority enterprises.
WorkSource Provides
• Job Preparedness
Workshops
• One on One Career
Guidance
• Weekly Hiring Events
These services are FREE and open to the public.Translation services are available upon request.
Visit our website: www.worksourceskc.org.
Marketplace coupon
Do you have a couch or other item you want to sell? Take advantage of the free person-to-person classified advertising in The Voice by filling out your 24-word ad below. Remember, write only one word per line and don’t forget to include your telephone number in your ad! Mail your ad before the 18th of the month and it will be included in the next month’s issue.
Name _____________________ Address _____________________________ City _____________________ State __________________ ZIP ___________ Telephone ______________________ E-mail __________________________
Write your ad here (one word per line)
Check the classification: Items for sale Autos for sale Items wanted Services
Mail to: PPC, PO Box 80156, Seattle, WA 98108 Fax: 206-461-1285 E-mail: classmgr@nwlink.com w/subject line “The Voice”
Locations Auburn: 253.804.1177 Renton: 206.205.3500 Rainer: 206.721.6000 Seattle Downtown:
206.436.8600 North Seattle: 206.440.2500 Redmond: 425.861.3700 South Seattle
Community College:206.764.5304 contact classmgr@ nwlink.com today!
TRANSLATIONS
Translated Articles from The Voice
You might be eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Вы можете иметь право на возврат налога за заработанный доход
Работающие семьи с низким дохом и одиночки могут иметь право на возврат налога от $457 до $5657, если они заполнят заявление на возврат налога за заработанный доход до 15го апреля.
Для того, чтобы иметь право, вы должнысоответствоватьопределённым требованиям и отправить форму возврата налога (tax return), даже если вы не заработали достаточную сумму денег, чтобы быть обязанным отправлять форму.
Вы можете иметь право на EITC, если у вас был заработанный доход в 2009 году и:
У вас двое детей и вы заработали меньше $40295 (или $45295, если состоите в браке и отправляете возврат налога совместно) в 2009 году
У вас один ребёнок и вы заработали меньше $35463 (или $40463, если состоите в браке и отправляете совместный возврат налога) в 2009 году
У вас нет детей и вы заработали меньше $13440 ( или $18440, если состоите в браке и отправляете совместный возврат налога).
Дополнительно к этому, у вас не должно быть больше чем $3100 инвестиционного дохода в год и вы должны иметь действующую карточку социального обеспечения (Social Security Number).
Есливыподаётезаявлениесовместно, то у вашего супруга также должна быть действующая карточка социального обеспечения, также как у всех детей, которых вы учитываете в заявлении на EITC, должны быть действительные карточки социального обеспечения.
Чтобы иметь право, вы не можете декларировать свои доходы по статусу “состоит в браке , но отправляет отдельно”.
В большинстве случаев, EITC не будет учитываться при определении права на получение Медикейда, SSI, фудстемпов, жилья для малоимущих или для большинства выплат по программе TANF (Temporary Assis-
QÚI VỊ CÓ THỂ HỘI ĐỦ ĐIỀU KIỆN ĐỂ NHẬN LẠI TIỀN THUẾ BỒI HÒAN
Người hay gia đình mà đi làm có lợi tức thấp có thể hội đủ điều kiện để nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan từ $457 đến $5,657 nếu họ nộp đơn khai thuế liên bang trước ngày 15 Tháng Tư.
Để hội đủ điều kiện, qúi vị phải đáp ứng vài điều kiện và phải đi khai thuế, cho dù qúi vị đã không kiếm được số tiền lương đòi buộc để khai thuế.
Qúi vị có thể hội đủ điều kiện để nhận lại tiền thuế bồi hòan nếu quí vị có đi làm có lợi tức trong năm 2009 và :
Có 3 hay trên 3 đứa con, và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $43,279 (hoặc 448,279 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung.
Có 2 đứa con, và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $40,295 (hoặc $45,295 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung
Có 1 đứa con và trong năm 2009 có mức lợi tức dưới $35,463 hoặc $40,463 nếu là người có gia đình và khai thuế chung.
Nếu không có con và và trong năm 2009 có mức lương dưới $13,440 (hoặc $18,440 nếu có gia đình và khai thuế chung.
Cộng thêm vào đó , và trong năm qau, qúi vị không được có trên $3,100 lợi tức từ quỷ đầu tư và qúi vị phải có số an sinh xã hội.
Nếu vợ chồng khai thuế chung, thì người vợ hay chồng buộc phải có số an sinh xã hội, và các con để đuợc họp lệ cho việc bồi hòan thuế, thì phải có số an sinh xã hội.
Trong phần lớn các trường hợp, tiền thuế bồi hòan sẽ không bị dùng như là cách để tính cho sự hợp lệ trong việc xin trợ cấp phiếu y tế, tiền Phụ Cấp An sinh xã hội-SSI, phiếu thực phẩm, xin nhà cho người lợi tức thấp, tiền trợ cấp oeo-phe tạm thời TANF.
Waxaa laga yaabaa inaad xaq u leedahay earned income tax credit (EITC)
Dadka dakhliga yar soo galo iyo qoysaskooduba waxay xaq u leeyihiin in loo soo celiyo lacag u dhaxaysa $4575,657 haddii ay codsadaan lacagtaas dowladda dhexe uga soo noqonaysa oo ku eg 15ka April.
Si aad ugu qalmato, waa inaad buuxisaa shuruudo gaara, buuxisana canshuurta sanadka, xataa haddii aaadan samayn lacag badan oo kugu qasbaysa inaad xareyso canshuurta.
Waa suuro gal inaad hesho haddii aad
lacag samaysay sanadkkii 2009 aadna
leedahay caruur dhan saddes ama ka badan lacag ahaanna samaysay in ka
yar $43,279 (ama $48,279 haddii aad
reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan)
2009ka
Haddii aad leedahay labo carruur ah aadna samaysay in ka yar$40,295 (ama $45,295 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka
Haddii aad leedahay hal cunug aadna samaysay in ka yar $35,463 ( ama $40,463 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka
Haddii aadan Carruur lahayn aadna samaysay in ka yar $13, 440 ( ama @18,440 haddii aad reer leedahay iskuna xareysanaysaan) 2009ka
Intaa waxaa dheer inaadan maal
gashan lacag ka badan $3100 sanadkaas,
aadna leedahay sooshal sax ah.
Haddii aad isku careysanaysaan waanuu xaaskaaga ama ninkaaga iyo carruurtuba leeyihiin sooshal lambar.
Si aad lacagtaan u heshid waa inaadan canshuurtiinna kala xareysan haddaaad is qabtaan.
Inta badan, EITC looma it isticmaali karo u mudnaanshaha Medicaid, supplemental social security income (SSI), Food Stamps, gurhaha bilaashka ah iyo TANF.