Did you know that working at minimum wage in our region, you'd have to work 121 hours per week just to make ends meet for yourself and one child? Almost 80% of Connecticut households that can’t make ends meet have at least one adult working.  

What We’re Doing

United Way focuses on helping lower-income families become more financially stable. Your contributions to United Way Community Investment supports programs and initiatives that help local people gain the skills they need to land jobs and advance in their careers, make the most of their hard-earned dollars, reduce debt and save for the future.

Results

• Building Job Skills: Nearly 1,880 people improved their career skills in 2010 through United Way supported job training. United Way also leads the Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford, a private/public partnership of organizations committed to a long-term, educated, economically self-sufficient workforce.
• Maximizing Income: Because you gave to United Way Community Investment, more than 800 of our neighbors learned budgeting, credit repair and other financial literacy skills last year. And $14.8 million in tax refunds came back to low- and moderate-income families in our region through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. That includes $5.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credits for lower-income workers.
• Building Savings and Assets: More than 300 local families bought their own home last year with help from United Way supported homeownership programs.