Single Stop

Are you experiencing life circumstances that prevent you from focusing on your education? Single Stop can help.

Free Tax Services

Single Stop is partnering with Community Link during the 2021 tax season to offer VITA Free Tax Services to eligible participants. If your household income in 2020 was $57,000 or less, you could qualify to have your taxes prepared and submitted through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This year, the sites will be 100% contactless virtual. You will not need to go to a site this year for your tax preparation — simply choose the sign-up location that is closest to your zip code.

Schedule a free tax services appointment.

Borrow a Laptop or Mobile Hotspot for Spring

We want to do all we can to ensure you continue in your classes and achieve your academic goals.

If you are having trouble accessing technology, a limited number of laptops and WiFi hotspots are available for loan — at no cost. You will be able to use these devices as long as you are enrolled in classes and until we are able to resume traditional, in-person classes.

To request a device for spring 2021, complete the laptop loan application. The Single Stop team will contact you with more details after they review your application.

Central Piedmont has partnered with Single Stop, a non-profit organization, to create a one-stop shop that can connect you with a variety of resources you may need to stay focused on your academic goals. Single Stop uses specially-designed software that, through a series of questions, identifies resources that students may be eligible for. These resources include:

  • free tax preparation and counseling
  • benefits counseling
  • Financial Literacy Programming: Keys to Financial Success
  • referrals for other campus and community resources

All Single Stop services are free for qualifying Central Piedmont students and your family members.

Single Stop is also committed to serving our veterans and their families. If you are a veteran, please call or stop by Single Stop in Central Campus, Central High Building Room 100 to make an appointment.

Unsure where to start? Complete the Single Stop benefit screener.

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What Single Stop Can Do For You

Single Stop can help you overcome financial or other barriers by connecting you to affordable technology, housing resources, legal assistance, food referrals, healthcare resources, free tax preparation, and more. Single Stop also offers several emergency grants to help you pay for your basic expenses.

Single Stop Services

  • Benefits Screening

    Did you know that Single Stop offers free benefits screenings for students? Benefits screenings are a quick and easy way to see if you and/or your family is eligible to receive services such as:

    • food stamps
    • medicaid and medicare
    • housing assistance
    • and much more!

    Once you are aware of benefits that you may qualify for, a Single Stop staff member will assist you through the entire process, which includes helping you to complete any necessary paperwork  or applications. Your Single Stop Coordinator will follow up with you to ensure you were able to complete all of the requirements and if benefits were awarded. Please stop by the Single Stop office on Central Campus in the Central High Building, Room 100 for your free benefits screening today!

    If you can't make it to the Single Stop office, you can now do the benefits screening at home or from any computer with internet access. To complete a Single Stop screening from your computer, please follow these steps:

    1. Log in to MyCollege.
    2. Under Student Services, click on Single Stop Screener.
    3. The screener will appear and you can get started.

    After you complete your screening, a Single Stop Coordinator will call you to further discuss how we can assist you.

  • Legal Services

    In partnership with the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Single Stop is now offering free legal advice and legal representation (determined on a case by case basis). The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy can assist students with the following:

    • eligibility for public benefits
    • Affordable Care Act disputes, appeals, and tax issues
    • veteran benefits
    • tax disputes
    • immigration issues
    • consumer protection matters
    • healthcare access issues through public programs

    Legal services will be available in the Single Stop office on Central Campus on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Affordable Healthcare Act

    Do you need to enroll or have questions regarding the Affordable Health Care Act or your insurance options? Let Single Stop and Health Insurance Navigators from the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy help you!

    Contact Single Stop to make an appointment. Appointments last one hour and are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also learn more by using the get covered connector.

  • Virtual Visits

    Can't get to the Single Stop office? Try a virtual visit!  Virtual visits can take place from any Central Piedmont campus or from any computer with a web camera. Through virtual visits you are able to meet with a Single Stop counselor for the following services: 

    • financial counseling session
    • benefits counseling
    • benefits screenings 
    • legal services

    To schedule a virtual visit, simply email or call the Single Stop office to set up your appointment. Before your scheduled virtual appointment a Single Stop staff member will email you a link. When its time for your virtual appointment, simply click on the link and connect with a Single Stop staff member.

Keys to Financial Success

Single Stop is offering the Money Smart curriculum as a free resource to our students. The curriculum is designed to help you navigate through financial obstacles and life events.

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