At The Fortune Society, the Benefits Access team connects participants with vital resources as they navigate reentry after incarceration, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and other forms of public assistance. The Benefits team offers additional, more specialized services like referrals for expert advice and on-site income tax preparation assistance.  

Fortune is a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, offering free tax preparation for participants in partnership with Single Stop, USA. Participants coming home may need assistance filing their taxes for the first time, or they may have questions and concerns that Fortune’s free tax preparation assistance aims to address.  

When Briana, a Fortune participant, first reached out to the Benefits team for tax preparation assistance, she felt lost. As it was her first time filing taxes after coming home, she needed someone to explain how to read through her tax forms and help her better understand what it all meant.  

Briana also needed assistance filling out her return including her children. While she already struggled to understand the varying amounts listed on her tax form, the staff at Fortune explained which lines referred to her dependents and explained specific credits she could receive like the Child Tax Credit and childcare credits.  

“It was more difficult at first,” Briana shared. “I didn’t know where things went in each box, I didn’t know about what my job withheld because of my kids, and I didn’t necessarily know that things would be so different when I had them. I also had to remember to bring documents for all of us, so it was a little more confusing.” 

Now, Briana has worked with the same staff members for the past several years, and each tax season she follows the same routine. She comes to Fortune with her and her children’s documents and meets with someone from the Benefits team to review her tax forms before beginning to fill out her return. They’ll inform Briana of any missing or incorrect documents, and then they’ll work on filling out the tax return paperwork together.  

Having built a trusting relationship with the staff at Fortune, Briana feels confident each tax season that she’ll receive her refund without any issues. After completing the return paperwork, she provides her signature and a Fortune staff member submits her tax return to Single Stop, USA for filing.  

Throughout the process, Briana remains in communication with the Fortune tax team, including Carol, who works with Single Stop, USA directly. They keep her updated until her state and federal returns are accepted, and she receives her tax refund.  

Briana appreciates the care she receives at Fortune. As a participant of several years, she has established strong relationships with others in the community, and she always feels welcome to stop by with any questions.   

“Coming here, you are not judged, and you get access to resources that you may not be able to without coming here,” Briana said. “I always feel welcome and important when I come to Fortune.”