From strengthening local resilience to advancing financial security, health, and youth opportunity, United Way is working toward a future where everyone can thrive. Together with local partners, we're helping our community grow stronger, and we're seeing some great results! Read the stories below to see how that's happening:
A. and her children had been experiencing homelessness, but things were looking up: She had found housing! But. . .she didn't have the money for the application fee. This relatively small expense was keeping her from achieving a big goal--safe, affordable housing for her family. But United Way's Barrier Busters program covered the cost of the fee so that A. and her children could move into their very own home. A. got the kids settled in school and started her own business!
G. was on the verge of losing her job because her car had broken down and she couldn't get to work. She had some money to put toward the repair, but it would cover only about half the cost. United Way's Barrier Busters program covered the other half, so that G. could get back to work and save her job. Today, she's doing great!
H. struggled for many months after losing his car in an accident. Getting to work was a daily ordeal, as he had to depend on unreliable rides. Keeping medical appointments was nearly impossible. Each missed opportunity threatened not only his health, but the stability he'd worked so hard to build. But United Way's Barrier Busters and Buzz United programs provided practical support through consistent, reliable transportation. Now, H. can keep his appointments and manage his medical condition, and he doesn't have to worry about losing his job because he can't get to work. What may seem like a small intervention--a ride to work or to the doctor--became something far greater for H. It became stability. It became continuity. It became HOPE. Today, H. is not just maintaining. He's moving forward and doing amazingly well!
When B. came to one of United Way's community partners, she was facing the very real possibility of losing her home. The stress of potential eviction weighed heavily on her; she didn't know where she would go or what she would do. But a small amount of emergency assistance from a United Way-funded program allowed B. to stay in her home during a critical point in her life. This support provided more than just financial relief; it gave her peace of mind, stability, and the opportunity to focus on rebuilding. Because B. didn't lose her home, she was able to secure employment and begin regaining her independence. B. says that having a safe place to stay made all the difference in her ability to move forward. Her story is a powerful reminder that timely assistance can change a life--turning a moment of crisis into a steppingstone toward stability and self-sufficiency.