SingleStop USA Press Release
May 5, 2008 INITIATIVE TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN U.S. AWARDED $5.5M GRANT SingleStop USA Aims to Lift One Million Households Out of Poverty SingleStop USA, a new national initiative that connects low-income families and individuals with public benefits like children’s health coverage and tax credits, and services, such as legal and financial counseling, has received a $5.5 million grant to lift up to one million households out of poverty. This grant will facilitate the expansion of the initiative’s highly successful pilot program in New York City to four states. The grant was awarded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, an international foundation committed to supporting lasting change in the lives of families and individuals disadvantaged by poverty. SingleStop is committed to connecting hundreds of thousands of low-income households with the public resources for which they are eligible. Each year, at least $65 billion set aside by government for food stamps, health insurance coverage, childcare subsidies and tax credits are left unclaimed. Frequently, those who are eligible for these benefits are unaware that they and their families can benefit from specific programs. Over the next five years, SingleStop aims to deliver up to $2 billion in benefits and tax credits that will help lift low-income families out of poverty. At the heart of SingleStop is its “one-stop-shop” strategy, which makes it possible for the working poor to learn about their eligibility for a variety of benefits at one time and in one place. At present, accessing public benefits in the United States means time-consuming visits to a series of different government offices, a major time investment for people who often work multiple jobs and rely on limited transportation options. To help families, SingleStop uses a software tool that condenses thousands of pages of regulations and statutes into an easy-to-use computer program that calculates a family’s eligibility for a host of benefits and services in just 15 minutes. Single-Stop counselors guide clients through the application process, and provide families with expert legal and financial advice to help families maximize the impact of the new benefits. A McKinsey & Company study of SingleStop’s New York pilot program, which has assisted 70,000 people since 2001, showed remarkable results. For every dollar spent in the program, clients saw a return of $3 in benefits, $4 to $13 in legal counseling, $2 in financial counseling, and $11 in earned income tax credit returns. Families tracked recouped an average of $1,800 in tax credits and $5,000 in benefits – life-changing amounts for low-income families. At just one of the 60 city sites, legal counseling prevented the eviction of 355 people. The New York City initiative was launched in 2001 with funding from The Robin Hood Foundation. “We are committed to the success of SingleStop because the access to benefits to which they are already entitled will improve the lives of millions of low-income families in the United States at a time when disparities in wealth are growing,” said Gara LaMarche, President and CEO of The Atlantic Philanthropies. “We know that income stability is a critical factor in boosting the long-term educational and health prospects of low-income children and families.”
The $5.5 million grant is for a two-year national pilot replication of SingleStop USA with a challenge to raise an additional $2 million in new funds. Over the two years, SingleStop plans to open sites in four states, including California, Maryland, New Jersey and New Mexico.
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