United Way Of Massachusetts Bay And Merrimack Valley

We unite people to create change that lasts.

FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES ENDING HOMELESSNESS - At United Way, we believe all individuals and families should have safe, stable homes and the resources to keep them long term. On any given night in Massachusetts, more than 3,700 families are experiencing homelessness. That's more than 13,000 individuals, 60% of whom are children. The effects of homelessness are devastating for families. Children without homes are twice as likely to repeat a grade, four times as likely to develop asthma and other health issues, and are at a 52% higher risk for developmental delays. For parents, jobs can be hard to come by and harder to keep, putting the dream of security further out of reach. It doesn't have to be that way. OUR SOLUTION - Rising housing costs, mental health issues, substance misuse, and a host of other factors contribute to the increasing homelessness rate in our community. Our solution brings together nonprofits that address each of these issues as part of the complex whole. We fund programs that are working effectively, and we create and pilot new solutions where we see gaps. Our goals are: 1 - Stabilizing families in safe, affordable housing and providing long-term support so they can weather future emergencies. 2 - Investing in and piloting innovative new programs that can be rolled out state-wide. 3 - Scaling school-community partnerships that prevent homelessness, reduce disruptive school moves, help families develop financial well-being, and help vulnerable students attend school regularly. How We're Doing So Far: 1 - $2.1M annual investment in Ending Homelessness 2 - 10,410 Families in crisis avoided homelessness 3 - 20% Reduction in chronic homelessness since 2016 MOVING FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY - At United Way, we believe every family deserves a pathway out of poverty. Too many people in our region know what it's like to be unemployed or work multiple jobs and still struggle to make ends meet. Too many of our neighbors have to decide between filling the fridge or filling a prescription. And too many people can't find a job that pays well enough to face these challenges head on. For these families, a single setback is enough to be financially devastating. OUR SOLUTION - There are few choices available to families on the edge of financial catastrophe. They could fall prey to predatory financial advice or services, and if they default on the loan, their credit suffers. Without good credit, their options thin even further. Just "finding a better job" isn't always the answer either. Without specific skills and training, people settle for low-paying jobs, leaving their savings to dry up before the month is out. Climbing out of poverty is complex. United Way is providing leadership to a network of nonprofits who serve families across our region. Together, we are creating solutions that work. We help families in need set reachable goals such as cleaning up their credit so they can rent a home, sending a child to college, or getting a job that will pay a living wage. We help families by: 1 - Investing in organizations that focus on job skills training that offers a defined career pathway driven by employer needs. 2 - Scaling an integrated services model with: financial coaching, career placement, public benefit screening services, all under one roof. 3 - Expanding access to financial coaching that helps families build credit, increase their savings, reduce debt and build assets. How We're Doing So Far: 1 - $2.8M annual investment in Moving Families Out of Poverty 2 - 3,147 Individuals placed in jobs 3 - $3,141 Average increase in annual savings for families receiving financial coaching