SingleStop bridges the information gap separating low-income families from life-changing public benefits, tax credits and other essential services that remain untapped and inaccessible
SingleStop USA is the nationwide expansion of SingleStop NY, a program developed by the Robin Hood Foundation to connect the working poor in New York with government funds and services intended for them.
What SingleStop USA does
- Benefits Calculator. Using a computerized benefits calculator, SingleStop counselors determine a family's eligibility for a wide spectrum of benefits and tax credits, then provide individualized counseling, guiding clients through the process of applying for the range of services for which they qualify including health insurance, nutrition, federal and state subsidies for childcare, housing assistance, welfare-to-work initiatives and tax credits.
- Local Partnerships. SingleStop's sites are located in the neighborhoods where the working poor live and in the community-based organizations they trust. By co-locating in existing agencies, SingleStop helps broaden the range of services that resource-strapped organizations are able to provide.
- Tailored counseling. Expert legal counseling and financial planning advice are available at many SingleStop sites. As SingleStop expands nationally, it is piloting initiatives to offer a streamlined package of its services through partnerships with government entities, community colleges, large employers and commercial chains.
Why Blue Ridge Supports SingleStop USA
By helping people understand the benefits for which they are eligible, SingleStop has the possibility:
- To maximize the use of basic resources -- food, health insurance, child care and tax refunds to increase the likelihood that families are healthy and stable, with parents who work and children who attend school.
- To deliver $2 billion in benefits to up to a million households in its first five years.
