Income

Promoting Financial Stability & Independence

In the past 25 years, the cost of living has more than doubled. There have been significant increases in the costs of housing, health care, transportation and other expenses. To make ends meet, families are borrowing more, and relying more heavily on credit cards to cover their living expenses. With rising debt outpacing wage increases, many people are living paycheck-to-paycheck—some barely getting by, and others reduced to poverty levels. This leaves many families unable to save, making them vulnerable in a crisis, and unable to provide for their own long-term financial stability.

To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead, United Way is helping families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial capability to plan for, and accomplish, their long-term financial goals.

United Way works with its Income Advisory Council (a group of community leaders and financial stability experts), to establish priorities, develop a Community Action Plan, and evaluate results. To help implement the plan, United Way works with its Program Partners, to provide needed services and coordinate efforts throughout the Chippewa Valley.