Oregon Va al Colegio Información básica sobre la universidad: Información para las familias con estudiantes en la preparatoria y los pasos a tomar rumbo a la universidad.

Solicitud de Ayuda Estatal de Oregón (ORSAA). Los estudiantes elegibles indocumentados o bajo el programa de DACA (Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia) en Oregón, pueden completar esta solicitud para recibir ayuda estatal incluyendo la Beca de Oportunidad de Oregón (Oregon Opportunity Grant) y la beca Promesa de Oregón (Oregon Promise). Esta beca también está disponible desde el 1.º de octubre. 

Becas y Ayudas Que No Tienen Qué Reembolsar (Inglés). El gobierno federal y los gobiernos estatales otorgan becas por varias razones, desde la necesidad financiera hasta el desempeño académico o deportivo. Con una sola solicitud, los estudiantes pueden postularse para la mayoría de estos programas de ayuda.

Ayuda Financiera de Oregón (Inglés). Un portal para varias solicitudes de ayuda financiera y becas. Los estudiantes pueden ver la descripción de cada una de ellas. 

Becas Federales Pell. Estas subvenciones no son préstamos por lo que no es necesario pagarlas. Los estudiantes pueden recibir una Beca Federal Pell por 12 semestres o menos tiempo, pero no más.

Becas para Estudiantes Hispanos o Latinos (Bajo Recursos Adicionales). No existen leyes federales ni estatales que prohíban a estudiantes indocumentados presentar solicitudes, inscribirse y graduarse de instituciones de enseñanza superior públicas o privadas. Sin embargo; al ser clasificados como extranjeros, los estudiantes indocumentados pierden la capacidad de ser elegibles para recibir asistencia financiera federal y tarifas de matrícula reducidas para residentes estatales. Este sitio tiene información sobre becas para estudiantes extranjeros.

Becas para estudiantes mexicanos que viven en los Estados Unidos. El Gobierno de México, a través del Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME) y los Consulados de México en Estados Unidos de América, entrega recursos a las organizaciones e instituciones educativas que participan en la convocatoria y se comprometen a aportar fondos complementarios que al menos dupliquen los recibidos por parte del Gobierno de México. Los estudiantes tienen que pasar por el proceso de selección que tenga cada institución educativa para el otorgamiento de las becas.

Para mayor información sobre este tema y cómo ayudar a su estudiante con la transición a la universidad, contactenos aprendiendo@multcolib.org

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Taxes in 2023: Forms and assistance

Every year during tax filing season, the library is ready to help— whether that be books, workshops, referrals to tax help, or printing out the forms you need, we're here for you!

Look for Upcoming Events, Programs and Blog Posts on our site for the most up-to-date information.

The deadline to file federal and state tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. You can get tax preparation assistance and support in the following ways:

Paper copies of tax forms or instructions

• Download and print forms and instructions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms & Instructions page and the Oregon Department of Revenue Forms and Publications page. If you are unable to print forms at home, you can send items to the library's printers from almost any device or location with an internet connection.
• Have forms mailed to you. To receive federal tax forms by mail, follow the instructions on the IRS website or call 800.829.3676. To receive Oregon tax forms by mail, fill out the online order form or call 503.378.4988 or 800.356.4222 (toll free).
• Pick up some federal forms at the library. A limited number of federal tax forms are available at library locations; to find out what’s available at a location near you, call 503.988.5123, send us an email, or chat with us. 
• The Oregon Department of Revenue no longer sends state tax forms and booklets to libraries, so we will not have any Oregon paper forms available. However, we can print many of the forms you need; contact us or ask at any library location.  

Tax return preparation assistance

• IRS-certified volunteers are providing in-person and virtual tax help starting January 28th. Call (503) 243-7765 to see if you qualify and make an appointment. Language translation services are available. You can find more information and intake packets online. Provided by Metropolitan Family Service and CASH Oregon as part of IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
• Other community groups host in-person and virtual IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs for qualifying taxpayers; check the IRS Free tax return preparation site for partners providing this service in your area.
• CASH Oregon now has options for virtual, scan and go, and in person tax help appointments at various locations in the Portland area.  
• CASH Oregon can also assist with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications and renewals. Call 844-972-1467 for more information.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering online tax help. There is an extensive self-help section; you can also email them your questions regarding federal income taxes.  For one-on-one tax help through AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, use their locator tool to find a site near you.
• If you work as a rideshare driver, Roadmap to Rideshare Taxes can help you navigate how self-employment taxes work, how to count your driving income, how to track tax deductions, and how to pay estimated taxes.
• Get help from the IRS online or by calling 800.829.1040.
• Get help from the Oregon Department of Revenue online by emailing Questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov, or by calling 503-378-4988 or 800.356.4222. Open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone lines are closed 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays and on holidays.
• Get more information about the Portland Arts Education and Access Income Tax on the Portland Revenue Online website or by calling 503-865-4278.

Other tax assistance

• If you need assistance with a tax issue beyond regular tax preparation, the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic from Lewis & Clark Law School might be able to help. They provide free need-based legal representation in Federal tax matters, specializing in client controversy with the IRS.  Contact them by emailing litc@lclark.edu or filling out an online form.
• Questions about IRS Administrative rulings & positions? Want to read analysis of recent tax legislation or the CCH Tax Briefings (newsletter)? VitalLaw (formerly CCH Cheetah) is a resource largely for tax attorneys and professional tax preparers that may help with unusual tax situations. It is available in any of our 17 library locations (no remote access).

File your taxes online for free

• CASH Oregon has a list of online filing options that are free if you meet certain qualifications.
• IRS Free File lets you prepare and file your federal income tax online for free.
• The Oregon Department of Revenue has a list of approved tax preparation software products that are free if you qualify. Learn more about e-filing information for Oregon.
• Use the IRS free fillable forms starting in late January. Oregon no longer has free fillable forms ​that can be filed online. Oregon forms are PDFs you can fill out before printing if you are not e-filing.
• MyFreeTaxes from the United Way helps qualifying taxpayers prepare and e-file their own federal and state returns for free, and includes various ways to get support. Regular operations will begin again in late January 2023.

Still have questions?

Call the library at 503.988.5123, send us an email or chat with us. Library staff cannot prepare returns, advise on tax matters, or interpret tax law.

Lara P.

Los años a partir del 2020 han sido estresantes para las familias. Hay muchas ideas sobre cómo reducir el estrés y algunas de las que nos entusiasman provienen de OK You, una "organización sin fines de lucro que apoya a los jóvenes en el uso de prácticas creativas para mantenerse conectados con su yo para estar OK". Recientemente, la biblioteca tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con la fundadora y directora del programa OK You, Kathleen Lane. Ella habló de cómo los proyectos diseñados por diversos artistas "proporcionan una oportunidad segura para la expresión, la conversación y comprensión. Empezar o terminar el día con un proyecto de OK You es una forma genial de establecer una conexión en familia mientras se usa la creatividad para liberar, compartir y navegar a través de momentos y emociones difíciles". 

Cuando se le preguntó cómo fue creado OK You, Lane dijo: "Me pareció muy, muy importante compartir con los jóvenes otra forma de enfrentar sus miedos y preocupaciones; que pudieran tener una nueva forma de verse a sí mismos y dejar la pena; dejar de decir ‘qué hay de malo en mí’, y en su lugar decir ‘qué hay de bueno en mí’ y ver todas esas hermosas conecciones entre ansiedad y creatividad, ansiedad y empatía... De eso se trata realmente este programa; se trata de... descubrir todas las cosas bellas que llevas dentro y saber que tenemos la capacidad, a través de esos talentos, de ser creativos para manejar nuestros miedos y preocupaciones... podemos tener acceso a esos mismos talentos que provienen de la ansiedad para sobrellevar la ansiedad".

OK You se ha usado en entornos como escuelas y espacios comunitarios, pero Lane compartió dos proyectos que las familias pueden hacer en casa. Lo primero que me vino a la mente fue el OK Kit. "Un OK Kit puede ayudarte a recordar todas las cosas buenas que hay en tu vida, y en ti mismo, para que puedas enfrentar cada día con calma y valentía. De esa manera, cuando estés preocupado o experimentes momentos desafiantes, estarás mejor preparado para superarlos". Este es un gran proyecto para que la familia lo haga junta. Como dijo Lane, "es un magnífico ritual de comunicación para el desayuno, la cena o antes de acostarse... algo en lo que todo el mundo puede compartir lo que ha agregado o su objeto favorito adentro; es una forma estupenda de entablar un diálogo emocional en el hogar".

También mencionó Dados Agradables como un divertido proyecto familiar. Dados Agradables es básicamente cuando se te ocurren seis ideas diferentes de autocuidado y las agregas a las caras de un dado de 6 caras, y luego cuando estás estresado o preocupado puedes tirar tu dado y obtener una idea de algo que hacer para sentirte mejor. Y Lane dijo que cuando la familia lo hace junta ¡puede ser divertido! Por ejemplo, si dos niños tiran sus dados e intentan hacer las dos cosas a la vez, ¡puede que se abracen mientras cantan o se estiran!

Lane hizo un maravilloso resumen del poder de OK You: "Creo que los niños a cierta edad pueden convertirse en un misterio para sus padres y encierran tantos sentimientos... y creo que el hecho de tener esta oportunidad a través de prácticas creativas para dejar salir algo de esto... el simple hecho de tener algo con lo que puedes trabajar con tus manos... De algún modo esto disminuye un poco la tensión y creo que es muy importante que los niños vean que todos luchamos por superar esto. Es un viaje que dura toda la vida, en el que navegamos y nos ocupamos de todos esos sentimientos que aparecen y que está bien, que es normal, que es parte de ser humano. Nuestra cultura como que nos vende la idea de que todos debemos aspirar a ser felices y todo lo demás son sentimientos malos. Pero podemos aprender mucho de todos los sentimientos que surgen en nosotros y que los padres den el ejemplo de que está bien incluso decir: ‘Estoy teniendo un día muy difícil. Estoy realmente estresado’. Y que los niños vean que [sus padres] siguen ahí, sentados a la mesa de la cocina y que mañana estarán mejor".

 

“I need help finding grants for my small business”

“Are any grants available for low income people and/or veterans for home repair?”

“I want to find grants to buy a home or for real estate investment”

We get questions like this in the library every week, and we are happy to help!  But the first thing to know about many financial assistance programs is that most of them are not grants in the traditional sense, and that searching grants databases will not get you the information you want.

This post sorts through some of the myths about grants, and to point to sources of funding that might help for the types of questions we typically get at the library. And yes, we’ll cover actual grants, too!

Who gets grants?

Most grants are awarded to:

• nonprofits like charities, schools, and arts and community organizations,
• state & local government agencies,
• federally-recognized tribes,
• and public safety agencies like hospitals, police and fire departments

Most grants are for specific projects that will benefit many people, such as to produce a museum exhibit, to fund science or technology advances, or infrastructure projects (like installing broadband in a rural community). Grants are not generally given to individuals.  Grants are almost never available to businesses to hire staff, for ongoing expenses, or to expand. 

Applying for grants is a very involved process: you need to explain how you will spend the money, how it will benefit the targeted audience, and how you will document all of this. There’s a reason that “grant writer” is a full-time job held by people at places like non-profits and museums! 

Yep, that sounds like me and/or my organization! So how do I get a grant?

Grants.gov 
 “Despite what the late-night infomercials want you to believe, the federal government does not provide grants for business expansion and growth. There is no ‘free’ money for you to start or grow a business.”  Grants.gov is the source to find and apply for federal grants. It is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. Grants.gov does not provide personal financial assistance; it’s more like a directory. In order to find grants, go to the grants.gov web site and click on “Search Grants”  On the left hand side you can narrow eligibility to categories like 501(c)(3) nonprofits, state governments, independent school districts, etc. You can also narrow by category, or at least un-check the areas you don’t qualify in. They also have a mobile app.

SAM.gov Assistance listings  (formerly known as Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or CFDA)
Sort of a companion to Grants.gov, and you may see some overlap. Covers assistance to both individuals and groups, especially state agencies, city governments, school districts, and Indigenous tribal governments and agencies. Some assistance listed here is administered by a state or county agency, which may have application requirements beyond those listed here.

Foundation Directory Online Professional
Library resource. Find potential grant-makers for your nonprofit by geographic area, type of organization, or population to be served. You can also see what kinds of projects a particular grantmaker has funded. Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or an international NGO. This database must be used at a library location (no remote access).

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online
Library resource.  Similar to Foundation Directory Online Professional, this is easy to search. You can narrow by people served and geographic location served. It must be used at a library location (no remote access) 

Getting Your Share of the Pie : The Complete Guide to Finding Grants
E-book you can read online with a library card. One important thing it points out in the section on grants to individuals is that “Grant opportunities for individuals are very few in number” and “The vast majority of grants available in this category come in the form of scholarships or fellowships.” 

Candid's knowledge base
The company behind the Foundation Directory has answers to lots of common questions for grant seekers of all stripes, including artists and information on topics like fiscal sponsorship, crowdfunding, and corporate sponsorship. They also publish Philanthropy News Digest, which includes news and RFPs.

Okay, so it sounds like I’m not actually looking for a grant. What other kind of financial help is out there?

Here are some typical areas where individuals can get financial help for a specific purpose. Note that most of these have lots of restrictions, and not everyone will qualify.

Buying a home

Help is available in the form of down payment assistance or government-backed loans. Here are a few in the Portland area. To qualify for any of these programs, you’ll need to meet specific criteria:

Portland Housing Center down payment assistance
Down payment assistance is restricted to Portland Housing Center registered homebuyers.

Proud Ground
For first time homebuyers who meet income requirements.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat homebuyers help build their own homes and purchase them with affordable mortgages. Homebuyers complete a total of 200 sweat equity hours. Sweat equity refers to the actual hands-on involvement of Habitat homebuyers in the construction of their own homes, as well as participation in other Habitat and community activities. All sweat equity hours must be completed before pre-approved homebuyers purchase their home. Additional program requirements include homeownership education classes and community engagement events.

NeighborhoodLIFT and other bank programs
Banks sometimes have programs where a loan is forgiven after you live in the home for 5-10 years, such as NeighborhoodLIFT : “The NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance program provides a forgivable, zero-interest down payment loan with no required payments. Eligible homebuyers use the money from this loan for the down payment and closing costs of a home mortgage loan.”

Home Purchase Assistance Program 
Assistance with own payment and closing costs for first and non-first-time homebuyers looking to purchase a home within Portland city limits. (Currently unavailable, December 2022)

Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI)
Offers a Homebuyer Education and Counseling program and Individual Development Account savings plan.

African American Alliance for Home Ownership
Programs include HAPP (The Homeownership Asset Preservation Program), a service for qualifying homeowners to protect homeownership and transfer wealth between generations,  pre-purchase counseling, and foreclosure prevention help.

Camino A Casa (thru Hacienda CDC)
Provides coaching for the homebuying process and help with down payments and closing costs through programs like a 3:1 match savings plan (the Individual Development Account) to larger down payment assistance loans.

NAYA
Provides culturally-specific homeownership coaching and assistance for Indigenous people, as well as repair grants. 

Home repair

Weatherization and Repair from Community Energy Project
Free weatherization and safety repairs for hundreds of low-income households, seniors, and people with disabilities in Portland.

Water leak repair program  
Free water leak repair services for income-qualified homeowners in Portland. Through this program, they can arrange to repair leaking toilets, faucets, or underground water pipes. Sewer repairs are not eligible.

Oregon Energy Trust
Multiple programs, including Savings Within Reach, for help with home energy upgrades for income-qualified households and utility bill payment assistance and help with weatherization improvements for low-income households

Rent and utility assistance for people impacted by COVID-19 (or other emergencies):

Multnomah County Emergency Rent Assistance
Local rent relief for tenant households with incomes at or below 80% area median income who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. 

Afloat: Utility Debt Relief
A limited-time program to give bill credits for overdue sewer/stormwater/water bills to low-income households with debt related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deadline to apply for a bill credit  is April 11, 2022.

211
211 is a good place to look for other social service or crisis/ emergency needs.

Aunt Bertha/Findhelp.org
Type in your ZIP code, then click “money” icon and “Help pay for housing”

Small Business help

Small Business Association (federal government) 
Multiple programs for small businesses, including grants and loans

Business Oregon (State government) : Access to Capital- Loans, Loan Guarantees, and Bond Programs
Provides direct loans, and other programs to fund your business.

Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs Credit Corporation (OAMECC)
Helps minority small businesses to overcome the specific problems that limit their success and growth through technical assistance and loans.

Mercy Corps Northwest
Provides financing, mentorship and education to small business owners. This includes loans ranging from $500-$50,000 to startups and existing small businesses and matching contributions to  an Individual Development Account (IDA). They also run Oregon Women's Business Center (open to everyone, despite the name), a training and coaching service for small business owners.

Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO)
Provides loans up to $250,000 to small businesses and matching contributions to an Individual Development Account (IDA), a matched savings account that helps people with modest means to save towards the purchase of assets.

SCORE
Not a funding source, but a great resource for entrepreneurial questions. "SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses. The Portland Chapter is run by about 70 volunteers who have in depth, practical experience running and managing businesses." SCORE also runs a mentorship program. 

Livelihood NW (formerly known as the PSU Business Outreach Program) 
Non-profit organization that provides free and low cost professional business support to underserved entrepreneurs and small business owners in Portland, OR and throughout the Pacific NW.

Grants and Scholarships for College

Please begin by reading this Planning and Paying for College resource list from MCL’s home learning team.

Oregon Goes to College
Need-based grants, such as Pell Grants, the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) and Oregon Promise Grants

Foundation Grants to Individuals Online 
Library resource.  Similar to Foundation Directory Online Professional, this is easy to search. It must be used at a library location (no remote access)  Grants and scholarships for higher education, generally restricted to a particular course of study/degree program and/or to people meeting specific criteria. Some examples of scholarships listed in this database:

• Need-based Scholarships for dependents of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks 
• Scholarships to graduating high school seniors of Walla Walla County, WA 
• Scholarships for WA and OR residents of Danish descent who have shown exceptional involvement in the Danish community
   

Scholarship America
Free website listing scholarship opportunities with links to sponsoring organizations. These also tend to be for specific courses of study, for people with residency or demographic matches, or students who have demonstrated leadership or ability in certain areas.

And of course, contact the financial aid and scholarship office at your college or university for more ideas!

Everything Else

SAM.gov Assistance listings (formerly known as Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, or CFDA)
Sort of a companion to Grants.gov, and you may see some overlap. Covers assistance to both individuals and groups, especially state agencies, city governments, school districts, and Indigenous tribal governments and agencies. Some assistance listed here is administered by a state or county agency, which may have application requirements beyond those listed here.

Some examples of assistance for individuals listed here are  grants intended to help very low-income owner-occupants in rural areas repair their properties, scholarships for American Indians and Alaska Natives studying health professions who commit to serving in the Indian Health Service for two years ,and financial assistance to organic producers and handlers for certification programs.

Benefits.gov
A list, searchable by state and subcategory (Living assistance, Insurance, etc) of state and federal government-funded programs, from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to Crop Insurance to State Crime Victims Compensation. Includes links to apply for assistance or get more information about eligibility.

Black Resilience Fund
An emergency fund dedicated to healing and resilience by providing immediate resources to Black Portlanders.

Oregon IDA
Individual Development Accounts, or IDAs, are matched savings accounts that build the financial management skills of qualifying Oregonians with lower incomes while they save towards a defined goal. Oregonians who qualify can save for goals including homeownership or home repair, small business start-up or expansion, post-secondary education or job training, employment-related adaptive equipment, vehicle purchase, and more.

 

Have more questions? Contact us if you have other questions about grants or financial assistance, or if there's a resource we should add.