INCOME: Promoting financial stability and independence.

To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families and their children from getting ahead, United Way launched Agenda For Change, an initiative that promotes community-based strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the skills that will allow them to change this cycle of poverty for the next generation.

In addition to grants awarded for programs to help address these needs, United Way is mobilizing resources in three critical areas: 

Weekend Hunger Backpack Program: Launched in the fall of 2009 at two local elementary schools, this program addresses the problem of weekend hunger for elementary school children. One school principle saw children lining up an hour early for school breakfast Monday morning because they were so hungry and had not eaten over the weekend. Hunger impairs concentration and can affect behavior and school performance. For some, the only nutritious meals they received were those served at school. It is clear that we must address these basic needs before we can ensure that these children are getting the education that they need to succeed. 

Free Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA): United Way of North Central Florida is working in collaboration with a community coalition to expand and enhance our local Free Tax Assistance program. The program trains volunteers to assist low income working families to file their taxes, and more specifically apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The average Earned Income Tax Credit is more than $1,800. If those who are eligible for this benefit and are not currently receiving it did receive it, it would mean nearly $17 million in income for our community.

The Benefit Bank: This free, web-based system simplifies and centralizes the process of applying for many state and federal benefits for low and moderate-income individuals and families. The online sign up process can be a barrier for some people, so United Way is recruiting volunteers to assist with the sign up process. only 37% of Alachua County residents eligible for food stamps receive them. Even if the number of eligible residents who actually receive benefits increased by only 20 percent (increase the percent of eligible residents receiving benefits from 37 percent to 57 percent) the projected economic impact in Alachua County would be $6 to $8 million in additional food assistance.  

Did you know?

• Nearly 12 percent of all households in our area aren't sure where their next meal is coming from or there isn't always enough to eat.¹
• At some elementary schools, between 80 and 98 percent of students are eligible to receive free ad reduced lunch. Some of those children don't get enough to eat over the weekend.²
• Ten to twenty percent of those who are eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, don't file for it. Many who do file, pay high fees to tax preparers.³
• More than 90 million Americans - one-third of the U.S. population - are struggling to make ends meet with salaries less than $40,000 per year.⁴
• The poverty rate for children in North Central Florida is 19.8 percent.¹

 _{1. Alachua County Hunger Abatement Plan, 2009 2. Alachua County Public School Board, 2010 3. IRS, 2006 4. U.S. Census, 2000}