May 26, 2003

Recognizing the need to address Miami's standing as the poorest large city in America per the 2000 U.S. Census, Mayor Manny Diaz and the city of Miami launched a $2 million Anti-Poverty Campaign earlier this year. This unprecedented use of General Fund resources was a direct attempt to help improve the lot of working families residing in the city of Miami.

The first phase of Miami's Anti-Poverty Campaign consisted of a $150,000 outreach effort targeted at expanding local awareness about both the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). The EITC and CTC provide substantial financial benefits to working families and local communities. In the city of Miami alone, nearly 80,000 families received approximately $70,000,000 in federal EITC benefits with an average household return of approximately $1,500.

Mayor Diaz- campaign focused on achieving the following four goals:

1. Expand the level of EITC and CTC awareness in the community;

2. Maximize the number of eligible residents claiming the credits;

3. Increase awareness about and usage of free tax preparation services; and

4. Provide quality tax information to city of Miami residents.

To achieve these goals, the city developed a variety of strategic partnerships with the IRS and other organizations like the Knight Foundation, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and a variety of local non-profit and community-based organizations.

The campaign financed by the city consisted of the following steps and elements:

• A poll to determine existing levels of awareness of EITC and CTC, assess attitudes regarding accessing tax preparation assistance, and access to financial institutions;
• Three (3) direct mail campaigns totaling 165,000 mail pieces, targeted to potentially eligible residents, local tax preparers, and city occupational license holders regarding the EITC and CTC;
• Establishment of tax hotline, (305) 643-6TAX, which fielded more than 35,000 phone calls from Miami and Dade county residents during the tax season;
• Direct outreach to local business and major employers;
• Free tax preparation assistance at 14 IRS'sponsored sites within the city of Miami;
• Joint outreach and tax preparation efforts with Navarro Pharmacy & Discount Stores; and
• An expansive media campaign including a kick-off press conference and scheduled appearances at local media outlets.

Mayor Diaz' campaign has met with great success and has impacted working families throughout the city including families residing far outside the city of Miami's jurisdictional limits. Callers to the tax hotline have called from as far north as West Palm Beach. IRS representatives report significant increases in the number of clients using their centers and directly attribute many of those increases to the city of Miami's efforts. Local corporations have embraced the campaign and are making EITC and CTC education an integral part of their new hire orientation for low-wage workers.

In the coming months, Miami's anti-poverty efforts will expand to include outreach campaigns for the other pro-family, pro-growth elements of the city's plan, including entrepreneurship. The city will soon embark on a new partnership with Acci—n USA to promote entrepreneurship through a new micro-lending initiative. Other elements of the anti-poverty campaign will include investments in wealth-building strategies such as Individual Development Accounts (IDAs); Financial Literacy Education and Training, and Homeownership; emphasized and promoted by increasing homeownership opportunities in the city.

For more information on Miami's Anti-Poverty Campaign please contact Javier Fernandez at 305-250-5404 or by email to jfernandez@ci.miami.fl.us Also, for information on The U.S. Conference of Mayors Partnership on Working Families with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, please contact Joan Crigger of the Conference Staff at 202-861-6726.