Income

United Way Helps Americans Achieve Financial Stability

As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. Wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and education and currently, 40 million Americans are working in low-paying jobs without basic health and retirement benefits.  For families walking a financial tightrope, unable to save for college, a home, or retirement, United Way is here to help.

The Local Picture

Unemployment rates in Emmet (16.4%) and Charlevoix (14.5%) are much higher than Michigan’s (11%). Even in the best of times, many ‘up north’ jobs don’t provide a living wage or benefits.

United Way’s Funded Partners provide a range of ‘safety net’ services, as well as longer-term solutions to help our neighbors build skills to get and keep jobs to support their families.  We’re taking the lead on innovative ways to reduce poverty.

Hear from Roman Hank of the Petoskey Salvation Army about how we are helping community members get off the financial tightrope.

Benefit Access Initiative Launched.
This new innovative project will help local families access the public and private benefits they need to improve their financial stability.  Read more.

United Way is Coordinating Poverty Reduction Project

We have recently taken on coordination of some local activities of the Char-Em Poverty Reduction Initiative (PRI).

Lisa Luebke, Administrative/Program Assistant is now rejuvenating and coordinating the PRI Navigator project. This project links trained volunteer Navigators with low-income "neighbors" who need assistance in accessing benefits and local resources. If you'd like to volunteer or know someone who would like to be matched with a Navigator, contact Lisa .

We are also scheduling and helping to coordinate Poverty Simulations for schools, faith communities, and other groups wishing to "experience a month in poverty" in just half a day.

The project is funded through a grant from the state Voices for Action program, through the end of this year.