Basic Needs
United Way is helping people become more self-sufficient in meeting their basic needs through programs and initiatives designed to:
- Ensure all residents have adequate access to healthcare, housing and food.
Partners and initiatives helping to achieve our basic needs goals include:
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Emergency Food and Shelter Program
United Way facilitates a committee process that makes recommendations for the disbursement of federal funds to local agencies that provide services related to emergency food, shelter, and utility assistance.
Food Resource Committee - Emergency Food Resource Fund
A collaborative spearheaded by the United Way to assess the needs of our area food pantries and soup kitchens, this initiative provides assurance that our most vulnerable citizens are not without access to food. The committee’s work is a collective approach to issues such as food stamp utilization, food selection and quantity at CT Food Bank, increased need during the holidays, case management practices and access to other human service information. The network provides an opportunity for food providers to come together and share information and best practices, in an effort to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. An emergency fund was established to provide assistance to emergency food programs in crisis due to insufficient resources.
Holiday Assistance Program
Each year the United Way, along with various community partners of the Food Resource Committee, collects holiday food for needy families and individuals in our community. Last year over 1,000 turkeys were distributed for Thanksgiving dinner along with fixings to food pantry clients. United Way organizes the collection and comparison of client information in an effort to eliminate duplication and serve more families, looking at the system of food delivery and leveraging our resources. United Way collects turkeys and cash donations from residents and businesses as well.
Stock the Pantry
The Food Resource Committee created and implements the “Stock the Pantry”, a food drive that is activated periodically as needed, connecting United Way corporate partners – area businesses -with local Food Pantries. Companies collect food items on the Food Pantry Wish List and deliver them to the CT Food Bank warehouse in Waterbury where local pantries shop for food they distribute. Stock the Pantry Spring 2009 yielded a record 6,000 pounds of food from 43 local companies, which will provide 5,846 meals to impoverished individuals and families during the summer months when food supplies are lowest.
Continuum of Care
United Way, in collaboration with a Waterbury housing coalition of many health and social service agencies know as the Waterbury Continuum of Care, has supported annual HUD applications for affordable housing by providing funds for a grant writer. These HUD applications provide an opportunity to receive federal dollars to support community planning to end chronic homelessness and securing affordable housing vouchers and support services. The growing need for affordable housing is a critical community issue. To date over $4 million has been awarded. United Way is also supporting the work of this volunteer coalition by providing funding for a part-time support staff position. New Opportunities, Inc. is our partner in providing that service.
Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
The Waterbury Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is a regional strategic plan to end homelessness, not by managing homelessness but by investing in its prevention. Stakeholders from throughout the region, including the Waterbury Continuum of Care, city and community leaders, housing providers, faith-based leaders, neighborhood leaders, and those who know the problem from the inside, the formerly homeless, have worked together for six months assessing the need, the gaps, the barriers, and collaborations and resources that will be necessary to reach the goal of ending homelessness. Included in the plan are research and examples of best practices from programs and plans on a state and national level that have made strides towards reaching that ambitious goal. Strategic areas of the plan include housing, prevention, services, employment and income, and communication. United Way and the City of Waterbury provide leadership support for this initiative.
FamilyWize
FamilyWize, a free resource being provided free of charge as a community service by our United Way and the FamilyWize Partnership, provides access to prescription drugs at a discounted price for people with no insurance and for medicine not covered by an insurance plan or Medicare. There is no income limit, age requirement, eligibility or registration required. Simply present a FamilyWize card and prescription to a participating pharmacy to obtain the discounted price of up to 30%. There are fourteen participating pharmacies in the United Way ten-town area.
IBM Technology Grant
IBM Corporation provides a technology grant to support nonprofits that provide services related to literacy, education, and workforce skill attainment. United Way facilitates an application and selection process for local 501© 3 organizations that meet the eligibility requirements of IBM. This long standing partnership with IBM has brought over 130 computers into our community.
Nonprofit Assistance Initiative
United Way and the Connecticut Community Foundation established this program to provide organizational development support to nonprofit agencies in the area. Areas of focus include board development, management capacity, and strategic planning. NAI is the capacity building arm of our organization.
Outcome Measurement Initiative
United Way assists its funded programs and partners in developing and implementing a system to measure the impact of their services on their clients and the community. Using outcome measurement data, United Way communicates the value of these services and initiatives more effectively, while providing individual programs with a tool to improve their effectiveness.
Emerging Needs Fund
The United Way created this fund to address emerging community needs. The fund is administered by the Community Impact Cabinet of the Board of Directors.
