Liberals pour more money into tax filing program for homeless, newcomers
OTTAWA — In just over a week, six volunteers will start filing up to 500 tax returns for people with little to no income at the Shepherds of Good Hope homeless shelter in downtown Ottawa.
The Liberals gave volunteer-driven clinics like this a boost in last week’s budget, bringing annual spending on the “community volunteer income tax program” to $13 million, and allowing them to operate year-round.
Many federal benefits for low-income people, including the revamped workers’ benefit and the Canada Child Benefit, as well as provincial and municipal benefits, are calculated through income tax returns. More returns filed means more benefits.
Susan Alcott, who oversees the tax clinic at the Shepherds of Good Hope, said many of the people using her clinic don’t realize they can receive benefits for filing a return.