Supporting hard-working individuals and families to become top priority.
Over the past two years, United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) has undergone a strategic transformation focused on the population that we support and how we most effectively allocate resources to achieve the greatest outcomes.
In 2014, the United Ways in CT, in partnership with Rutgers University, produced a report that unveiled a population of households living paycheck to paycheck throughout the state. We call these households ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE lives above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic cost-of-living threshold, a bare-minimum budget that allows for only a very modest living in each community. In the communities UWWC serves, about one in three households is living below the ALICE economic threshold.
Through a series of new, standardized measures, United Way is quantifying the size of the workforce in our region and throughout CT that is struggling financially and identifying the contributing factors. These measures provide a broader picture of financial insecurity than traditional federal poverty guidelines.
UWWC intends to impact the lives of our ALICE population, increase their financial stability and ultimately reduce the number of ALICE households in Western CT. To accomplish this, we must listen to ALICE, focus on targeted outcomes that will improve their lives, and measure the success for continual improvement. UWWC will look to achieve specific population outcomes in collaboration with multiple partners, all working together towards a common goal.
The Board of Directors and local Community Councils determined that UWWC will focus on ALICE households, with an emphasis on three core areas: early childhood education, financial stability for households, and childhood obesity and healthy living. Resources (financial and otherwise) will be delivered within a collective impact model to have a focused approach, deeper partnerships, larger grants and stronger measurement opportunities.
The United Way model engages volunteers at every level of work, and this will continue. Volunteers will be involved in all decision-making for funding, as we believe strongly that it is community members who should direct the activities of United Way of Western Connecticut. Volunteers also play an important role in delivering services throughout our region, both through corporate volunteerism and individual efforts.
Over the next several months, UWWC staff and volunteers will host small community focus groups with ALICE households to learn what their aspirations are and what barriers exist to achieving them. Additionally, we will be talking with nonprofit providers, employers and other funders about their experiences with the ALICE population. These community conversations will inform us on priorities for funding. We are seeking individuals who work hard and live paycheck to paycheck (according to the ALICE report income threshold) to come forward and share their experiences and recommendations for assistance. This might include things like childcare sponsorships, transportation assistance to work, job training, policy changes, etc. A speaker’s bureau is also being created, where ALICE individuals can speak to the needs of families and be compensated. Anyone interested in advocating or being part of a community conversation, please contact Karen Mello at karen.mello@uwwesternct.org.
“United Way is working to create opportunities for families to be self-sufficient without having to make weekly difficult choices between things such as food, health care or utility bills, and rely less on government or social services to maintain a stable home and satisfying life,” said Kim Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut. “We are excited to engage in this important work.”
ABOUT UNITED WAY OF WESTERN CONNECTICUT
United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. UWWC is committed to ensuring that every child enters school ready to learn, every family is financially stable and every community we serve is healthy and strong. UWWC’s Volunteer Center mobilizes volunteers to meet critical needs and promotes citizen participation as the heart of a healthy community. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to be a part of the change. For more information about United Way of Western Connecticut, please visit: www.uwwesternct.org
ABOUT THE ALICE REPORT
The Connecticut ALICE Report provides analysis of how many households are struggling in every town, including the obstacles ALICE households face on the road to financial independence. The ALICE Report recommends both short-term and long-term strategies to help ALICE families and strengthen our communities. The Connecticut ALICE Report was funded by the sixteen Connecticut United Ways. For more information or to find data about ALICE in local communities, visit http://alice.ctunitedway.org/