Even with unemployment at near-record lows, millions of Californians are still struggling to afford basic necessities. Soaring prices for basic necessities and the high cost of living leave families stressed and children hungry. Worse, millions of families were pushed back into poverty after Congress failed to renew the federal expanded Child Tax Credit, with communities of color bearing the brunt of these decisions.
It doesn’t have to be this way. California leaders can choose a path to prosperity for all Californians by investing in proven anti-poverty tools including the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), and Free Tax Preparation Assistance (FTPA).
The CalEITC and YCTC have returned billions of dollars to families who are struggling to afford the basics: rent, food, diapers and medicine. And free tax help is critical to helping households claim these tax credits. But there is much more to do to ensure all families can thrive in the Golden State.
The Campaign for Prosperity builds upon what works: putting cash back into the hands of Californians to alleviate poverty and build equity.
These leaders know that California is at our best when all families have a pathway to prosperity.
The CalEITC and YCTC sends more than $1.3 billion in cash annually to millions of Californians who are struggling to make ends meet, freeing families from stress over making the rent or buying medicine and ensuring that fewer children go to bed hungry.
Together, we pledge to protect and strengthen tools proven to reduce poverty and build greater equity so ALL Californians can thrive.
The CalEITC Coalition urges you to join the Campaign for Prosperity! Together, we can encourage state policymakers to take action this year to protect expanded funding for FTPA, and Education and Outreach programs, and strengthen our two most powerful tax credit programs — the CalEITC and YCTC — that have proven to reduce poverty and build equity, creating a more prosperous California for all.
Who can join the Pledge for Prosperity:
State and local officials
Labor leaders/orgs
Business leaders/orgs
Non-profit, community leaders/orgs
Faith based organizations
Take the Pledge for Prosperity today to:
Protect the CalEITC and YCTC tax credit programs and maintain current funding levels for FTPA, and Education and Outreach programs.
Prioritize directing additional investments to strengthen these crucial tax credit programs as state resources are available.