Financial Stability

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WE FIGHT FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY

Financial stability is a key component to living a better life. With over 50% of the Central Florida population falling into the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed) category, financial stability can be next to impossible to achieve when living paycheck-to-paycheck. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families found themselves falling from the edge of the fiscal cliff; this was the emergency that crippled many people. Despite this new financial obstacle, Heart of Florida United Way served 111,061 Central Floridians last year through financial stability programs.

UNITED WAY MANAGED PROGRAMS

  • 3,021 Central Floridians received free, in-person tax preparation assistance with an IRS-trained volunteer through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)sites, AARP locations or filed online using MyFreeTaxes.com.
  • 767 low-to-moderate income households received tax refunds by claiming the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through United Way’s financial stability coalition.
  • 193 families with 344 school-age children received resources and case management to avoid foreclosure or eviction through the Siemer Institute for Family Stability. By helping families become financially stable, students were able to stay in their school and focus on their education.

UNITED WAY financial stability FAST FACTS

  • 1,208 youth and adults participated in jobs skills training
  • 83% earned job-relevant licenses, certifications, and/or credentials
  • Pre-COVID: 76% who were unemployed or underemployed obtained family sustaining employment, 71% retained employment after six months, and 69% increased their wages.
  •  ALICE Recovery Fund: 140 ALICE households impacted by the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic received more than $160,790 in rent/mortgage and/or utility assistance.
  • 21,593 were assessed for income supports eligibility
  • 89% of qualified households received income supports at an average of $1,752 per household
  • 5,014 participated in consumer housing education and training programs; 100% obtained or maintained affordable housing
  • 304 individuals opened and/or used a deposit account with a bank or credit union; 77% increased their savings (pre-COVID).

FINANCIAL STABILITY PARTNER AGENCIES

Heart of Florida United Way has partnered with non-profit agencies across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties to ensure families and individuals have the tools they need to be financially stable. It is only by working united that Central Floridians will be able to live a better life.

  • The Christian Sharing Center
  • Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C)
  • Early Learning Coalition of Seminole
  • Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corp.
  • United Against PovertyUpdated February 2021