1. February is Black
Semiperm
Connections
History Month
2013 is the 150th
Anniversary of the
Emancipation Volume 2, Issue 2 February 2013
Proclamation and
commemoration of
50th Anniversary of
the March on
TAX TIME:
Washington SaveUSA Matching Savings Program
New York City’s SaveUSA program offers an incentive to save at tax time. At select
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout the City, you may have
the opportunity to open a SaveUSA account when you file your taxes. Save at least
$200 of your refund for a year and earn 50 cents for every $1 you save. Save
$1,000 for the maximum $500 match.
Participants in the SaveUSA program are selected at random, so anyone inter-
ested has the same chance to open the account while funds last.
To qualify for the SaveUSA program, you must:
Earn $50,000 or less if you have children
Inside this Earn $18,000 or less if you do not have children
issue: Have a minimum refund of $200 and agree to save at least $200 in the ac-
count
Free Tax 2 Be 18 years of age or older
Prep
Provide two forms of identification and proof of address in addition to your
tax documents
Refund 3 Open the account at the time you file your taxes if you are assigned to a
Loans SaveUSA account
Poetry 3 The nearest Volunteer Tax Assistance Center is
Skating! 4 Food Bank for NYC - Carver Financial Literacy Center
300 West 145th Street
New York, NY 10039
Subway: A, B, or C to 145th Street
Telephone: 646-315-7703
Hours of Operation: Site opens on January 17. Monday-Thursday, 10am-7pm;
Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm. NOTE: During March, site will be closed
on Mondays and Fridays.
Languages: English, Español
For more information on this program or for a complete listing of VITA sites par-
ticipating in the SaveUSA program, please see Semiperm staff.

2. Page 2
TAX TIME
Free Tax Preparation
In addition to the SaveUSA program, New York City has established a network of free
and low cost tax preparation sites. There are over 40 sites in Manhattan and many more
throughout the 5 boroughs.
If you plan to have your taxes completed at neighborhood site, please ensure that you
have the following documents with you when you go:
Proof of identity, such as a driver's license or other photo ID
Social Security cards for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents and/or a Social Se-
curity Number (SSN) verification letter from the Social Security Administration
OR Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter for all names on the re-
turn (original or copies)
Birth dates for yourself, your spouse, and the dependents on the return
Wage and earning statement from your employer(s): Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R
Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1098 and 1099)
A copy of your 2011 federal and state returns, if available
Proof of any other income, e.g., lottery winnings
Total paid for child care provider and the provider's Taxpayer Identification Number
or SSN (if you are claiming the New York City Child Care Tax Credit)
Bank account and routing numbers (if you are directly depositing your refund). Note: If
you use direct deposit, you should receive your federal tax refund in only 8 to 14 business
days.
Local tax sites include :
AARP - Bloomingdale Library Community Tax Aid - Goddard - Riverside Com-
150 West 100 Street, 2nd Floor Community munity Center
Room 647 Columbus Avenue, Corner of 91st Street
New York, NY 10025 New York, NY 10025
Subway: 1 to 103rd Street Subway: 1 to 86th Street
Telephone: 212-222-8030 Telephone: 212-799-9400
Hours of Operation: Site opens on February 1. Hours of Operation: February 12 - April 9: Tues-
Friday, 10:30am-2:30pm day, 6pm-8pm. You must call to schedule an ap-
pointment.
Languages: English, EspañolAARP - Morningside
Heights Library
2900 Broadway, Lower Level Community Room
New York, NY 10025
Subway: 1 to 116th Street
Telephone: 212-666-5099
Hours of Operation: Site opens on February 2. Monday and Saturday, 10:30am-2:30pm
See staff for a complete listing of the free tax preparation sites.
Semiperm Connections

3. Volume 2, Issue 2 Page 3
Refund Anticipation Loans: Rapid Refund at a High Costs
A Refund Anticipation Loan (commonly known as a RAL) is one of the five loans you
should avoid.
A RAL is a high-interest loan usually offered by a tax preparer. These so-called "instant" or "24-hour"
refunds are actually loans that come with fees and interest that reduce the amount of any refund antici-
pation check.
Before you sign up for a RAL, here are three things you should know.
1. A Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL) is NOT a tax refund. Many people think the check they get
from their tax preparer is their tax refund. This is false. A RAL is a loan. It is NOT an "instant re-
fund." The check you receive is less than your actual refund because of the fees that are de-
ducted. When you add up all of the fees (administrative and lending), it can amount to an annual inter-
est rate of as much as 300%!
2. A RAL can damage your credit report. If you do not get the tax refund amount you anticipated,
you are still responsible for repaying the loan and any associated fees. If you're unable to repay the
lender (usually a bank), the bank will report the unpaid debt to a credit agency which will negatively af-
fect your credit report.
3. You are not required to take out a RAL from your tax preparer. Tax preparers' main re-
sponsibility is to prepare your taxes. If they offer you a RAL, you can refuse to take out the loan.
"It seems to me," said Booker T.,
"That all you folks have missed the boat
Booker T. and W.E.B. Who shout about the right to vote,
And spend vain days and sleepless
By Dudley Randall nights
Happy Valentine’s Day
In uproar over civil rights.
Just keep your mouths shut, do not
"It seems to me," said Booker T., grouse,
"It shows a mighty lot of cheek But work, and save, and buy a house."
To study chemistry and Greek
When Mister Charlie needs a hand "I don't agree," said W.E.B.
To hoe the cotton on his land, "For what can property avail
And when Miss Ann looks for a cook, If dignity and justice fail?
Why stick your nose inside a book?" Unless you help to make the laws,
They'll steal your house with trumped-
"I don't agree," said W.E.B. up clause.
"If I should have the drive to seek A rope's as tight, a fire as hot,
Knowledge of chemistry or Greek, No matter how much cash you've got.
I'll do it. Charles and Miss can look Speak soft, and try your little plan,
Another place for hand or cook, But as for me, I'll be a man."
Some men rejoice in skill of hand,
And some in cultivating land, "It seems to me," said Booker T.--
But there are others who maintain
The right to cultivate the brain." "I don't agree,"
Said W.E.B.

4. Semiperm is a unique single-parent residential
here we grow community created by Settlement Housing Fund
in 2007. Located on Manhattan's Upper West Side,
this transformational housing program provides
housing and supportive services to 23 formerly
homeless single parents and their children in a
Semiperm, HDFC community setting.
210 West 102nd Street Semiperm is the only intermediate term housing in
New York City geared to homeless, single parents
9th Floor
requiring them to be employed or in school,
New York, NY 10025 while obtaining the skills needed to live independ-
Phone: 212.222.3673 ently. Our programming is focused on meeting the
Fax: 212.222.4694 needs of each individual family, and we partner
with volunteers, other organizations and city agen-
cies to provide services and referrals for the resi-
dents and their children.
Winter Fun: Ice Skating
Semiperm families hit the ice at Bryant Park in January.