The United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties has served our residents for over 55 years. The bulk of individuals that we serve are members of the “ALICE” population (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed). These individuals and families have incomes above the federal poverty level but below the basic cost of living, and they live paycheck-to-paycheck as a result. They therefore struggle to afford necessities like groceries and utilities when unexpected emergencies occur.
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The United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties has served our residents for over 55 years. The bulk of individuals that we serve are members of the “ALICE” population (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed). These individuals and families have incomes above the federal poverty level but below the basic cost of living, and they live paycheck-to-paycheck as a result. They therefore struggle to afford necessities like groceries and utilities when unexpected emergencies occur.
To address ALICE families' needs, United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties provides the following targeted programs:
*Our Family Stability Services program provides case management and financial assistance for families with low-to-moderate incomes to help them pay their rent, mortgage, and utility bills during times of unexpected emergency. New this year, Family Stability Services also provides emergency food and housing assistance for families who have just lost their housing. The Family Stability Services team has recently grown immensely, from one case manager to four, in order to accommodate the great need in our area.
*Our Master Teacher program supports early education in Lake and Sumter Counties by providing supervision and guidance for early learning educators in local preschools. Our Master Teachers’ guidance increases teachers’ competence and confidence, thereby improving the quality of our children’s education and helping them to enter kindergarten ready to succeed. This is particularly important for our students, because 90% of them come from families with low-to-moderate incomes. A solid early education helps to level the playing field for these children and put them on a trajectory of educational success.
*Our Mission United program serves Veterans in our counties who are elderly, disabled, and/or financially disadvantaged. Our Mission United Coordinator, himself a Veteran, helps Veterans to navigate the Veterans Administration’s complex system of benefits so that they can take full advantage of the benefits they are owed, including healthcare, disability compensation, and home repair benefits. Veterans in need of emergency food assistance are also provided with grocery store gift cards. In 2021, Mission United initiated a new transportation service that brings Veterans in Lake County from their homes to the nearest VA Clinic, or from the Clermont VA Clinic to the Orlando VA Medical Center. The latter route takes nearly an hour one-way and is not available through any other public transportation options in our area. Our service allows elderly Veterans to access specialty care that they would otherwise have to forego due to an inability to make the long trip on their own.
*Our Stronger Families program, initiated in 2021, provides education for families with low-to-moderate incomes who are seeking to improve their financial standing. Over 15 weeks, individuals and couples complete weekly courses on topics including budgeting, building credit, purchasing a home, and seeking higher education. Our inaugural Stronger Families course was an overwhelming success, with graduates reporting increased confidence and ability to lead their families to financial stability.
* Our Dr. Adrian Manley Scholarship program provides scholarships for GED test fees, college tuition, and books for local women who have low-to-moderate incomes. These life-changing scholarships allow hardworking women to further their educations so as to earn more livable wages and achieve financial stability.
* We are in the process of initiating a new program- United for Health program- that will give uninsured and underinsured individuals access to dental, mental health, and school physical services free of charge. Our clients frequently express difficulty accessing these critical services. United for Health will provide case management and financial assistance to help local ALICE families access these services. We have established relationships with providers throughout our two-county area who have agreed to partner with us to provide dental, mental health, and/or sports physical services to our clients. We anticipate that, over the course of a year, the United for Health program will provide payments for the above-mentioned services for 300 ALICE residents who lack access to care.
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