Mar 15, 2012 / 17:01 pm
Americans in need saved $7.4 million through the free tax preparation assistance offered by Catholic Charities during 2011, according to new figures released by the national organization.
Father Larry Snyder, Catholic Charities USA's president and CEO, said the figures showed the need for a “holistic approach to providing programs and services to those in need,” as Catholic Charities seeks to do through its financial literacy programs and tax preparation aid.
A “single point of access” to such services, Fr. Snyder indicated, could help a greater number of needy U.S. residents achieve financial security.
Figures obtained by Catholic Charities, through its January 2012 survey of member organizations, suggest that its financial services may be underutilized. Although the 44 surveyed agencies serve 3.5 million clients annually, fewer than 1 percent of them sought financial training or tax preparation help.