Archive for April 2023
Nationally, 36 million working households still struggling financially
Michigan was one of multiple states that was included in Wednesday’s release of ALICE in the Crosscurrents: COVID and Financial Hardship, a report that highlights the segment of our population known as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The research organization United For ALICE, using a new series of standardized measurements, partnered with United Way…
Read MoreALICE Speaks: Personal Stories Mark Report Rollout
LANSING – A news conference spotlighting financial hardship in Michigan included powerful stories of life for families that have experienced that hardship. The April 26 news conference, spearheaded by the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), shared the latest findings on ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households are those with…
Read MoreNew ALICE Report Shows Pandemic Impact in Region
While aid programs during the COVID-19 pandemic likely eased financial stress on many households, the risk of more families struggling is rising, according to a new report on financial hardship in Michigan. ALICE in the Crosscurrents: COVID and Financial Hardship, released today by Michigan’s United Way network and the research organization United For ALICE, shows…
Read MoreAdvocacy Brings Impact: AWARE Shelter
JACKSON – Our partnership with AWARE Inc. promotes social change by empowering survivors of domestic and sexual violence. That work includes helping survivors who face financial challenges. Here’s an example: A survivor staying in AWARE’s Jackson shelter received a housing choice voucher for subsidized housing. She successfully located an apartment with the help of AWARE. …
Read MoreTutoring Program Grows Confidence in Readers
SLD Read trains volunteers to work one-to-one with students in local schools BATTLE CREEK AND KALAMAZOO – Fifth-grader Chondell hasn’t always been willing to read aloud in class. But in a recent theater activity, he didn’t hesitate to read the part he’d been practicing. Then he volunteered to read additional parts, sight unseen, for students…
Read MoreChild Care Strengthens Family: Child Care Network
JACKSON – One of the biggest expenses for families, regardless of income level, is child care. When finances are tight, that expense becomes much harder to bear. So imagine how tough that is when a series of unexpected events pushes your family over a financial cliff. That’s the challenge faced by “Sally” and “Robert.” Both…
Read MoreSeeding Leaders Grants: Blossoming a Second Cohort of Nonprofit Leadership
United Way of South Central Michigan has awarded $2,500 mini-grants to its second cohort of 10 local Kalamazoo & Battle Creek leaders as a part of its program, Seeding Leaders. These grants are intended to support the wellness, leadership, and professional development of nonprofit leaders and primarily focused on leaders who identify as BIPOC (Black,…
Read MoreRentAble Revamp Removes Barriers to Stable Housing
The Kalamazoo Continuum of Care has revamped its RentAble program to help more people overcome barriers to keep or obtain housing. RentAble is a pilot program managed by the Kalamazoo CoC and funded by the City of Kalamazoo. It provides one-time assistance up to $2,000 per household to qualified individual or family renters. Whereas the…
Read MoreCelebrating Our 1st Birthday
President & CEO Chris Sargent reflects on our progress as we note the one-year anniversary of the merger that created United Way of South Central Michigan. “The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” Mark Twain said that to poke fun at April Fools’…
Read More