It's More Than Just Taxes

Corrin Buchanan is the Community Programs Director at the Women's Building in San Francisco

For the past three years Corrin Buchanan has been doing taxes in San Francisco’s Women’s Building as part of the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! coalition. This year, along with the help of her volunteers, the tax site at the Women’s Building was able to file a record number of taxes.  More importantly they were able to offer Financial Advice Information and Referral (FAIR) which is aimed at helping low income families and people look at their global financial picture, and discover what other resources exist  which can help them on their path to financial stability.

United Way: How did you get involved with Earn It! Keep It! Save It! and doing taxes?

Corrin: About three years ago I was running a job training and computer skills class in the resource room [at the Women’s Building].  My friend was the tax site coordinator and wanted me to help because she needed bilingual speakers. At first I didn’t know if I wanted to do taxes- it sounded kind of boring, but it turns out I really like it. It’s like a puzzle. And how many other ways do get an opportunity to so profoundly help a family?

United Way: How many tax returns were done at the Women’s Building?

Corrin: The goal was 450 tax returns. We were able to do 475.

United Way: What makes your program so successful?

Corrin: The Women’s Building is a valued San Francisco institution and that could be one reason clients and volunteers feel so comfortable.  This means we get a fair amount of repeat clients who’ve had their taxes done there in previous years. We’re also lucky enough to have repeat volunteers as well, which not only ensures a high skill level, but also makes the clients feel comfortable.

United Way: What impact do your volunteers have, and what keeps them coming back?

Corrin: The volunteers have a good experience I think in part, because the clients appreciate what the volunteers are doing for them. It’s not unusual for a client to request a particular volunteer because of a previous good experience. As far as the volunteers go, they have a special opportunity to have a huge impact on a family’s life – it feels really good to get someone a big refund.

United Way: Why do you think clients are able to open up and relate so well?

Corrin: Finance is a difficult subject and in dealing with it, a level of trust develops. Handing over your social security number, letting other people know what you make, creates a level of openness. You have to find out a lot about the person to find out how we can really help them–what kind of tax credits they may qualify for.

United Way: Do you have an example of that?

Corrin: One woman I was helping began talking to me about her daughter who had some mental health issues. The woman had some concerns about the service she was receiving but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her provider about that. But over the course of my interaction with her, I think I was able to make her feel comfortable enough to disclose her unease and together we were able to come up with a plan. So issues that are completely unrelated to finance can come up.

United Way: What other benefits do you offer to tax filers?

Corrin: A lot of the clients that get their taxes done through us aren’t aware of many tax credits they can also get – such as tuition or childcare expenses. Just as importantly they may not know that there are a lot of other benefits they are entitled to receive. Since we’re doing their taxes it provides a financial picture of their lives and we’re able to find out if there are other things they could be receiving. After all, not taking advantage of benefits that are available is like leaving money on the table—money that a family could really use.

Also, through FAIR we find and recommend a lot of resources that clients don’t know about, such as free or low cost banking, which reduces their dependency on high fee check-cashing places.  Through programs like Bank On San Francisco, we’re able to connect most people with a free bank account. When you’re giving a family the largest check they may receive all year it gives you an opportunity to talk about issues like IDAs, asset building, savings, and getting your financial house in order.

United Way: Can you tell us anything else about FAIR screening?

Corrin: We followed up with everyone who had their taxes done and ended up seeing some of them for a one-on-one financial follow-up.  As part of FAIR screening we pull credit reports and teach them how to understand them, how the score is calculated and give them tips on how to improve their credit if necessary. We also find out if they qualify for any public benefits, and we teach them how to apply.

United Way: Why do you think FAIR screening is so successful?

Corrin: I think the reason we’re successful is because financial issues can get to the root of a family’s issues, and cause stress and anxiety. Most people try to forget about this and avoid it. Isn’t it easier to get home and watch TV or do your errands rather than pull your credit report and set up a financial plan? But because the process establishes trust, it’s easier to provide that little bit of a push that overcomes inertia. We can say ‘let’s think about those difficult issues. Let’s think about the future.’