Leveraging Tax Season to Create Financial Stability for 211 Callers

The United Way of the Wine Country’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It program is changing lives across Northern California by offering free, volunteer-supported tax preparation to working families during a vulnerable time of year. Serving multiple counties, the program helps households with modest incomes access critical tax credits and refunds that can be a turning point toward financial stability. As Suzanne Harris, Community Impact Director at United Way of the Wine Country explains, “The tax return itself is the gateway conversation… when they do that, they’re going to learn that if it’s not 911, it’s 211,” connecting families to housing assistance, food support, healthcare, counseling, utility help, and other essential services. In one powerful example, a family living in a shelter received a $10,200 refund and, in addition to providing food and school supplies, “she learned what 211 can do on an ongoing basis,” demonstrating how the program pairs accurate tax support with long-term financial education and community resources to help families stabilize and thrive. Listen here.