The Earned Income Tax Credit in Los Angeles County: Trends and Opportunities

The Earned Income Tax Credit in Los Angeles County: Trends and Opportunities has been published by the Center for Community Research and Solutions at the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

This publication examines the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in Los Angeles County. The research brief includes: a history of the EITC, participant eligibility, historic trends in participation, rates of participation across LA County, tax preparation trends (paid sites, volunteer income tax assistance sites or VITA sites, RALs or Refund Anticipation Loans), and more. In addition, policy options are examined, including linking EITC to asset building strategies.

Selected Findings:

• LA County residents file almost 4 million tax returns a year. About 1 in 5 of those in LA County that file, claim the EITC.
• In 2006, over 750,000 LA County taxpayers received the EITC, providing about $1.5 billion dollars back to the community, averaging about $2,000 per person.
• About $22.6 million was spent on Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) in LA County in the 2005 tax year.
• 2 out of 3 tax payers claiming the EITC in LA County also purchase costly Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs).
• 23 states have their own EITC programs, which accounts for about half of the states that levy taxes.

2006-2007 Population Estimates

Census Bureau 2006-2007 Population Estimates The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its county population estimates for July 2007. According to the Bureau, Riverside County was Southern California's fasted growing area between 2006 and 2007. Its population rose by 3.3% or 66,365 persons to a total of 2,073,571 residents. San Bernardino County's population increased by 1.0% or by 20,295 persons to a July 1, 2007 count of 2,007,800 residents. San Diego County was right behind with a 0.9% population increase, or 26,497 persons, to a total of 2,974,859 residents. full article

Unemployment Falls in February but Still High

Unemployment Falls in February but Still High February's unemployment rates were released last week by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Los Angeles County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.3%, down from both 5.7% in January and from 5.4% in December, yet up from 4.7% a year earlier. February marked the ninth consecutive month the County's unemployment rate increased over the previous year; however, it continued at or below than the state's unemployment rate for the twenty-fourth consecutive month. full article

Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan

March 24, 2008

Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan

Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan has been published by Shelter Partnership.

This publication by Shelter Partnership examines the unique population of older adults in LA County who are currently homeless. Included in the publication: survey of characteristics of the older homeless population (ages, disabilities, sources of income, race/ethnicity, duration of homelessness, and more), recommendations on ending homelessness (involving access to housing, outreach, advocacy), a literature review, interviews with affordable housing funders as well as service providers, best practices of different organizations that house older homeless adults, and more.

Selected Findings:

• On any given night, there are 3,000 to 4,000 older homeless persons, (aged 62 and over) in LA County.
• 62% of older homeless persons have some kind of disability (either physical, mental or both).
• More than a quarter of homeless older adults (28%) in LA County are veterans (almost twice as high as the general homeless population in the county).
• The average monthly income of homeless adults who had at least some income was $773.
• Almost a quarter of homeless older adults reported having some college education.
  

Impact of Budget Cuts by County/Program

March 17, 2008

Impact of Budget Cuts by County/Program

Impact of Budget Cuts by County/Program has been published by the California Budget Project.

This report by the California Budget Project highlights the potential impacts of proposed budget cuts by the California governor on public services and programs. The report examines these impacts for each California county and for each of the school districts. Affected programs and services that are examined include Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, in-home supportive services, K-12 education, state childcare and preschool, SSI (Supplemental Social Security Income) and SSP (State Supplementary Payment).

Selected Findings:

• LA County could see a reduction in spending of $670 per student on K-12 targeted programs.
• Budget cuts in education could affect more than 1.5 million students in LA County alone.
• Cuts to health care providers will affect more than 2.2 million Medi-Cal recipients in LA County, who may face reduced health care services.
• LA County could face over 5,000 "lost" pre-school/childcare slots (available spaces).
• Out of all the counties, LA County would have the most people affected (over 400,000) with the proposed budget reductions to SSI/SSP (supplemental income payments to seniors and those with disabilities).
• In LA County, close to 30,000 children could lose CalWORKs cash assistance, due to the proposed budget reductions in the program.