Voices of Poverty

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest poverty-fighting program in the country. EITC is a tax credit for low-to-middle income individuals and families who work, but don’t make much money. An EITC refund can be as much as $4,716. Individuals and families eligible for EITC, also qualify to have their taxes done for free at numerous tax preparation sites throughout Virginia. Peggy Friedenberg of the Virginia Department of Social Services, Loren Johnson of the Greater Richmond EITC Coalition, Carolyn Spohrer of the Virginia Community Action Partnership and Maureen Goode of the Henrico Department of Social Services are among the many working to spread the word about this important anti-poverty program.

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Charlottesville City Council Member Dave Norris spends his days battling for affordable housing, increased educational opportunities for adults and children, and reducing racial disparity in our community. By night, as executive director of People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM), it is Dave’s mission to make sure no one freezes to death as a result of being homeless during the winter months.

Listen as Dave Norris defines poverty in Charlottesville.

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Shaele Wood started volunteering in college, and is now the United Way Thomas Jefferson Area’s Volunteer Center Director. Shaele shares how to find volunteer opportunities by visiting www.BeAVolunteer.info an online database that allows visitors to search by keyword, issue area addressed, type of opportunity, youth and family opportunities and more. Volunteers can also view an online calendar of special events, training sessions and one-time volunteer opportunities.

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The Jefferson Area Child Health Partnership (CHIP) staff work every day with low income families. They help these families connect with needed services in our community. Some of the staff members are low income themselves, and they understand the challenges of trying to be a good parent when facing ongoing financial challenges. Compassionate and committed, the CHIP staff advocates strongly for their clients.

In this podcast, they talk about the baby steps, support networks and knowledge people need to pull themselves out of poverty.

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The Jefferson Area Child Health Partnership (CHIP) staff work every day with low income families. They help these families connect with needed services in our community. Some of the staff members are low income themselves, and they understand the challenges of trying to be a good parent when facing ongoing financial challenges. Compassionate and committed, the CHIP staff advocates strongly for their clients. In this podcast, they share some of their experiences.

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In this segment, we listen to two teenaged mothers share their lives, hopes and dreams for themselves and their children. The FOCUS Women’s Resource Center operates Teensight, a mentoring and education program for at-risk youth; a program that has made a difference for these teens. Teensight Director Maureen Burkhill talks about the program’s services in the area since 1988.

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Hakim admits he’s made some mistakes. Mistakes and bad choices are what paved the path to the homelessness he faces today. A guest of PACEM, Hakim had just returned to the Charlottesville area expecting to have a home and found, as he said, “that was not true.”

Listen to Hakim share his definition of home and his determination to find a better future.

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When Dr. Greg Gelburd decided to open his own practice, he chose to offer a sliding-fee scale option for people not covered by health insurance. He struggled to find a lender for his practice because of this choice, but was able to find a way to do cover start-up costs in spite of that. Dr. Gelburd not only shows his compassion in his practice, he also regularly volunteers his time in medically underserved areas such as Honduras and New Orleans.

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Between the two of them, Kathy Ralston, director of Albemarle County Department of Social Services, and Buz Cox, director of Charlottesville Department of Social Services, they have many years of experience serving the community. In this segment, they share the history of public assistance in Virginia, define economic insecurity in our community and provide some recommendations of how people can take steps to escape poverty.

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Jamie lives with her children and husband in transitional housing in Charlottesville. She provides an insightful perspective on living homeless on the streets of our city, the effect rage and depression has had on her family’s economic situation and her priorities as a mother living in poverty. This interview, full of hope for the future and perspectives on local resources, highlights the experience of one family’s struggle from a mother’s point-of-view.

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