Community members often want to make a difference but feel they need more means to do so. The Children’s Promise Act Tax Credit allows anyone to change lives without changing their budget.
Passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2019, it provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to Community Care Network – a qualified Eligible Transitional Home Organization (ETHO).
Community Care Network, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is about empowerment. It seeks to empower its clients and minister to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, enabling them to move from addiction, homelessness, and/or incarceration to a stable and independent life.
Founded in 2003, their vision continues to equip clients through life skills training, safe, supportive housing, ongoing support, and ministering healing and restoration through Christian counseling and teaching.
ETHO provides a fantastic opportunity for people to come alongside this ministry and serve the most vulnerable within the Jackson County community. People already have to pay taxes, so they have a say in where that money goes. To get to direct it to change lives sounds so incredible that many people think there has to be a catch, but there’s not.
“The process is straightforward and is outlined on the website at www.ccnms.org/etho. Essentially, you fill out a form, donate to CCN for half of your property taxes, and then receive two letters from the Department of Revenue. We guide everyone through the process step by step, and people are often pleasantly surprised at how easy it is,” explained Allyson Brewer, Associate Director of Community Care Network.
“We let them know they can always contact Kevin Miller, who is a champion for this community and has been a great help to this program,” Brewer shared. “In fact, the counties will be reimbursed by the state, so they are not out any funding.”
How are the funds utilized? Currently, Community Care Network currently houses over 100 clients every night, half of whom are small children. Each donation helps to provide safe housing, meals, medical care, counseling, job skills training, and other skills needed to break cycles and help them succeed.
“We recently received a call from a young mother with a severely disabled son who is two months behind on her rent and facing eviction,” shared Brewer. “The money raised through this program helps ensure she and her son will stay housed and safe and that he will receive the care needed to stay well. People who have donated are already changing these two lives.”
Here are some other essential facts about the program:
*The ETHO tax credit can be used for up to 50% of Individual or Business Property or Income Tax
*Donations must be made to Community Care Network before 12/31/2024
*The county is reimbursed by the State of Mississippi
*Many individuals and businesses participated last year and have already reapplied this year
*Offers dollar-for-dollar credit
*The tax credit is part of the Children’s Promise Act
“There is still funding available before we reach the cap for individual tax payers,” Brewer shared. “There is a set amount of credits that can be used every year so it is critical that individuals or businesses who want to participate do so before those are gone. People can always contact us to find out what is still available.”
Every dollar makes a tremendous difference in the lives of so many people that CCN are actively helping every day. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, is crucial to their mission and greatly appreciated.
For more information about Community Care Network and the ETHO tax credit, please contact:
Diane Easley, Executive Director
(228) 219-2987
Allyson Brewer, Associate Director
(225) 326-4264
