UNITED WE THRIVE EMPOWERINGOUR COMMUNITY’SFUTURE
OrangeCounty
Population:401,310
Households:138,856 (115,680Children)
EmploymentRate:60.6%
DutchessCounty
Population:295,911
Households:115,529 (63,513Children)
EmploymentRate:599%
103,890householdsinourcommunityare incrisis,unabletosecurethevery essentialsneededtolive.
TheUnitedWayALICE(AssetLimited,Income Constrained,Employed)Initiativeisapowerful waytodescribefinancialhardshipthatgoes beyondthetraditionalFederalPovertyLevel It highlightsthesignificantnumberof householdsthatareworking,ofteninessential jobs,butstillstruggletoaffordbasic necessitiesintheirlocalcommunities.
FinancialHardshipis
NotEquallyDistributed
Thelargestdemographic groupsusuallyhavethemost householdsstrugglingtoafford basicneeds.But,whenyoulook atwhatpercentageofeach groupstruggles,youseethat somegroupsaremuchmore likelytobeinneedthanothers.
Population Breakdown
Therearealsodifferencesinfinancial
%Belowthe ALICEThreshold
Single(NoChildren)
Married(WithChildren)
Single,Female(WithChildren)
Single,Male(WithChildren)
TheCostofBasicsOutpacesWages
TheHouseholdSurvivalBudgetshowsthebasiccosttoliveandworktoday,covering needslikehousing,childcare,food,transportation,healthcare,technology,andtaxes It doesn'tincludemoneyforsavingsorfuturegoals.In2023,thesecostsineveryNewYork countyweremuchhigherthantheFederalPovertyLevelof$14,580foroneadultand $30,000forafamilyoffour.
United Wayis herefor ALICE.
Weinvestinchangetobuilda strongercommunitysoallcanthrive.
Ourmissionistofightforthehealth,educationand financialstabilityofeverypersoninourcommunity.
Welistentoyouandyourneeds.Weare constantlyevolvingourprogramsandinitiativesto catertothepressingneedsofourcommunity.
Amother’sheartshatteredwhen hersonwasstolenawaybytheir abusertoanotherstate.
Desperate,sheturnedtoThe FinancialAssistanceProgram,whose legaleaglesfoughttirelesslyto reunitethem Withunwavering determination,theynotonlybrought motherandsonbacktogetherbut alsosecuredasafehaven–theirown apartment Forthefirsttimeinwhat feltlikeaneternity,themother walkeddowngroceryaisleswithout thecrushingweightoffinancial dispair.
Prescriptionsareexpensive. Weaimtohelpwiththat.
UnitedWayoftheDutchess-OrangeRegionisproudto partnerwithSingleCaretoprovidecommunitymembers withaccesstoaffordableprescriptionmedications, ensuringgreaterhealthandfinancialstability.
BenefitsofUsingSingleCare
NoCost:It’scompletelyfreetouse
NoEligibilityRequirements:Anyonecanuseit, regardlessofincomeorinsurancestatus
SignificantSavings:Saveupto80%onmost prescriptions.
WideAcceptance:Acceptedatover35,000 pharmacies,includingCVS,Walgreensandmanymore EasytoUse:Noformstofillout,noactivationneeded. Youcanalsoaccessthecardbydownloadingthe SingleCareapp
EMPOWERINGFUTURES THROUGHLIFELONGLEARNING
Developingskill-basedopportunities,fostering positiveyouthdevelopmentandexpanding literacyservicesforourcommunity.
Failingtoachievegrade-levelreadingproficiencyby theendofthirdgradeisastrongpredictoroffuture literacy.Withyourhelpweareworkingtocurbthat statistic.
Shyandtimid,KylefoundhisvoicethroughLiteracy Connections.Withtheencouragementofdedicated volunteers,heblossomedintoaconfidentstudent His firstraisedhandmarkedaturningpoint,leadingto increasedclassroomparticipationandimprovedbehavior
ThroughourpartnershipwithDolly Parton’sImaginationLibrarywe arededicatedtoinspiringaloveof readingbygiftingbooksfreeof chargetochildrenfrombirthtoage five.
It'smorethanjustfun;it'sfundamental Earlyexposuretobooksdevelopscritical cognitiveandlanguageskills,sparkscreativity,andstrengthensthebond betweenchildrenandcaregivers Researchconsistentlyshowsthathavingbooks inthehomeisoneofthemosteffectivewaystoencourageearlyliteracyand academicsuccess.Bybuildingstrongfoundations,we'rehelpingtocreatea brighter,moreequitablefuturewhereallchildrencanthrive.
Learnmore,www.uwdor.org/imaginationlibrary
PATHWAYTO PROSPERITY
BOOSTING FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR LOCAL FAMILIES
Improvingfinancialaccess forALICEandlow-income individualstoalleviateshorttermfinancialcrisesinorder toincreaselocalfamilies’ economicpositionand increasingannualearnings andworkplaceadvancement ofindividualsandfamiliesin ourregion
CrisisFund
Weworkwithpartneragenciestooffer one-timegrantsordirectfinancial assistancetohelpindividualsfacing variousemergencies Thiscaninclude helpwithvitalmedications,billsand otherurgentfinancialneeds
Thisfundhelpsensurethatchildren andfamilieshaveaccesstotheir essentialneeds
EssentialNeeds SupplyHub
TheHubisacentrallocationthat collects,storesanddistributes essentialitemstolocalorganizationsin need Thisensuresthatresourcesare efficientlyallocatedtothosewho requirethemmost Theseitems typicallyincludeclothing,hygiene products,beddingandmore.
SocialCareNavigation
Getimmediatesupport,rightfromyour phone!Ourfree20-30minutephone screeningisthefastest,easiestwayto connectwiththehelpfulresourcesand supportyouneed Individualsare eligibleforourservicesifyou’re enrolledinMedicaidandneedoneor moreofthehealth-relatedsocial assistanceslistedhere:Nutrition counseling,emergencyfood, emergencyhousing,transportation support,metalhealthsupportand more
OtherPrograms
EmergencyHotlines
EmergencyCaseManagement
DomesticViolenceCrisisIntervention
EvictionPrevention&HousingStability FinancialLiteracySeminars
RideUnitedLyftProgram
FreeTaxPreparation
PreventativeCareScreenings
ABeaconofHope
Alisonstaredatthemedicalbill,her heartpounding Thenumber,over$900, feltimpossible Hernewborn'scheckupsandarecenttriptotheERforher toddlerhadleftherwithastackofbills shecouldn'tafford.Thethoughtofher children'shealthneedsgoingunmet terrifiedher
Desperate,shesearchedforhelp Akind representativefromoneofUnited Way’spartnerprogramslistenedtoher storywithempathy,andsoon,acheck arrived
Thereliefwasimmediateand overwhelming ThemoneyfromUnited Waydidn'tjustcoverthemedicalbills;it providedpeaceofmind.Shecouldfocus onherchildren'shealth,knowingthey weresafeandcaredfor Inherdarkest moment,UnitedWayhadbeena lifeline,abeaconofhopeshowingher shewasn'talone.
NOURISHINGOUR COMMUNITY,TOGETHER
Increaseaccesstohealthyfoodfor familiesinourcommunityexperiencing foodinsecurity.
FoodAccessCapacityBuilding
empowers food coalitions to strengthen their infrastructure and expand food access points, thereby increasing the availability of nutritious food within our community.
FoodBanks&HealthyFoodDistribution
We work to reduce food insecurity by partnering with local distribution centers to distribute healthy food, provide emergency relief and advocate for long-term solutions to connect families with nutritious meals
AdvocatingforFoodSustainability
Weadvocateforlong-termsolutionstofood insecuritybyleadingandparticipatingin advocacycoalitions,urgingpolicychangesthat strengthenfoodassistanceprogramsand amplifyingthevoicesofcommunitiestodrive systemicchange
1in5children don’thave enoughfoodto growupstrong. Wearetryingto changethis.
SERVINGTHOSE WHOSERVE
INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Awarveteran,haunted byunseenbattles,relied onVAbenefitstosurvive. Then,theunthinkablehappened:his lifelinewascut.Accusedofbeing“cured" bytime,hefacedanightmareofproving hisownpain Buthopeemergedinthe formofalegalshield Withdetermination andjusticeasallies,hefoughttoreclaim whatwasrightfullyhis.
VetZeroProgram
Noveteranshouldbewithoutahome.The VetZeroProgramprovidesrapidhousing assistanceforlow-incomeveteransin need Weofferhands-onsupport, includinghelpwithinitialhousingcosts, transportation,andconnectionsto
VETERANS MAKE UP ABOUT 7%ofall homelessadults intheU.S.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ONLY REPRESENT AROUND 6% OF THE TOTAL U.S. POPULATION.
essentialservices,tohelpyouquicklyfind asafeplacetoliveandbuildastable future
LegalServicesfor VeteransandMilitary Families
Ourfundedprogramoffersfreecivillegal servicestoveteransandmilitaryfamiliesin DutchessandOrangeCounties.Our servicesinclude:
PublicBenefits&IncomeStabilization Housing,Eviction,&Foreclosure
Prevention
DomesticViolence&FamilyLaw
DisabilityLaw
ElderLaw
LGBTQ+Law
Getinvolvedtodaytohelpus buildastrongercommunity.
Impactthrough participation.
Volunteer
Makeadifferencethrough service.Joinusforavolunteer dayororganizeacompanywideinitiative Wantadeeper commitment?Connectwith ourWomenUnitedor EmergingLeadersgroups www.uwdor.org/volunteer
Lead
Shapeourfuturetogether. Joinourleadershipcommittees orboardtodirectlyinfluence ourmission Becomeagrant reviewcommitteememberand decidewhichprogramsreceive funding Yourexpertiseisvital tooursuccess
Ifinterested,email ci-inbox@uwdor.org.
Attend
FromourCommunity BreakfastinSeptemberto theempoweringWomen’s LuncheoninFebruary,we're dedicatedtofostering connectionandprogress Celebrateourheroesatthe CelebrationofServicein Mayandtestyourlimitsatthe thrillingPulltheTankinJune www.uwdor.org/events
Give
Asmall,weeklycontribution cancreateabigimpacton hungerinourcommunity. Weturnaninvestmentof$1 into$5ofimpact Your generosityempowersusto expandvitalprograms Corporatepartnerships, throughgifting,arealso instrumentalinachievingour mission www.uwdor.org/waystogive
LeaveaLegacy
Createalastinglegacy.Your visionforastronger communitycanextend beyondyourlifetime Agift-inwillensuresyourimpact endures,inspiringgenerations tocome www.uwdor.org/giftinwill
It’samazinghowone smallbagoffoodcan makesucha difference.
Tommy’sstomachgrowledinanticipation asheburstthroughthefrontdoor, dreamingofacoldbowlofcereal.Butthe emptymilkcartonstaredbackathim,a starkreminderoftheirtightbudget.His mom,Sarah,sighed.Anotherweekof jugglingbillsandstretchingdollarshadleft theircabinetsbare.Justasdespairbegan tocreepin,Tommyrememberedthe mysteriousbaghisteacherhadhanded outthatmorning.Withaglimmerofhope, hetuggedathismother’ssleeve Inside, nestledamongotheressentials,wasa cartonoflonglifemilk.Reliefwashedover Sarahassherealizedthissmallblessing wouldtidethemover.Itwasasimpleact ofkindnessthatmadeaworldof difference
Yourgiftisthereason
Tommydidn’tgohungry.
Yourimpact stayslocal.
BECAUSEOFYOU,WEHELPED OVER159,000PEOPLEAND INVESTED$11,923,885BACK INTOOURCOMMUNITY.
INDIVIDUALS
59,303 benefitedfromtheHudsonValley Region’s211hotlineandour supportservices,includingRide United,discountprescription cardsandpublichealthprograms CommunityInvestment=$706,307
51,104 benefitedfromcommunity partnerships CommunityInvestment=$388,900 INDIVIDUALS
25,806 benefitedfromDaysofSharing andCrisisIntervention CommunityInvestment=$378,406 INDIVIDUALS
13,370
CommunityInvestment=$283,684 benefitedfromemergency housing,foodandshelter programs INDIVIDUALS
6,557
TaxSavings=$1,967,100 TaxRefunds=$5,277,250 benefitedfromfreetax preparationthroughHVCA$H INDIVIDUALS
3,361 CommunityInvestment=$1,361,532 volunteeredtoworktogetherto makeourcommunitystronger. INDIVIDUALS
Throughdedicatedfundraising initiatives,UnitedWaymakes anadditionalcommunity investmentof$1,560,706.
Thewailofthesirenwasafamiliar songtoKristina,anEMTwhospent herdayssavinglives Butforthree months,herownlifehadbeenan emergencyshecouldn'tfix Aftershe andherroommatewereevicted, Kristinahadbeensleepinginhercar, herbelongingsinastorageunit
Sheworkeddoubleshifts, tryingtosavemoneyforanew apartment,butthestoragefees piledup.Shefellbehind,anda finalnoticearrived:her possessionswouldbe auctionedoffatnoon.Inalast, desperatemove,shecontacted aUnitedWayfundedprogram.
Withminutestospare,at11:45am, shegotthecall Theprogramhadpaid herbackfees Herbelongingswere safe Thepanicshehadfeltfor monthsfinallylifted Now,Kristinahas anewapartment Shestillrespondsto emergencies,butwhenhershiftends, shehasahometoreturnto aplace whereshe,too,canfeelsafe.