Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2006

Abstract

Objective. This study evaluated the community organization ACORN’s efforts to increase the uptake of families claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through door-to-door canvassing and managing free tax preparation clinics in three pilot cities. Method. The mixed-method program evaluation included administrative record review; a telephone survey (N = 1063), and individual and focus group interviews. Results. During the 2003 tax year ACORN prepared taxes at no charge for 3,850 families who collected a total of $4 million in EITC and other tax credits. In two pilot cities ACORN led all other free sites in number of returns filed. Canvassing and word of mouth were the most productive marketing tools for the free tax preparation sites. Conclusions. Canvassing appears to be effective outreach in getting families to take advantage of free tax preparation. ACORN’s approach to combining services and direct action organizing appears to be a good fit and sustainable.

Comments

This article was originally published in Research on Social Work Practice, copyright © 2006, Sage Publishing.

The author's pre-print manuscript is posted here with the author's permission.

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