United Way works every day to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a better life – Education, Income, and Health.
United Way of Mat-Su’s Community Plan: Families and Individuals Achieve Financial Stability & Independence
The United Way of Mat-Su seeks to strengthen our community by identifying and tackling the underlying causes of the most serious social issues facing the Mat-Su Borough. One of the most critical issues affecting our community is financial instability of low-to moderate-income families. Financial Stability is one of the key factors to building strong and stable families, and in turn, a strong and stable community.
Over the past 20 years, the cost of living has increased by almost 90 percent due, in large part, to significant increases in the costs of housing, health care, transportation, insurance and utilities. To make ends meet, families are borrowing more heavily and relying on credit cards to cover many of these daily living expenses. This cycle of increasing debt to cover a higher cost of living, without a corresponding increase in wages, has left many individuals and families walking a financial tightrope, living paycheck-to-paycheck and barely getting by. Not only are these families incredibly vulnerable to crisis and often struggle to meet everyday obligations, but in the long-term, it leaves them with a very limited ability to save for schooling, a home, reliable transportation, retirement or to be prepared for financial emergencies. Families are feeling the effects of high prices and limited opportunities in a real and painful way.
The link between growing up poor and doing poorly later in life is well documented. The Center for American Progress has estimated that poverty costs the U.S. economy $500 billion a year. This estimate is based on three consequences of childhood poverty: reduced earnings as an adult, involvement with crime, and poor health. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, children are the most likely population to be poor.
United Way of Mat-Su and our community’s efforts to provide solutions for addressing adequate income and enhancing economic self-sufficiency are critical.
Consider:
- 42% of those experiencing homelessness are employed
- Average per capita personal income for a person in the Mat-Su Borough is $32,732
- 36% of school children in the Mat-Su Borough School District receive public assistance (Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)
- 52% of low-income working families and 75% of working poor families spend more than 30% of their income on housing
- Financial instability contributes to family stress and can prevent parents from meeting their child’s developmental needs
United Way of Mat-Su is committed to helping local families and individuals develop the skills and access the tools they need to become financially stable. To achieve that goal, we invest in, and partner with, programs and organizations that:
- provide access to workforce development, adult education, job readiness, training and retention, and vocational skills development
- provide financial education, debt reduction and credit repair guidance
- assist others with affordable housing
- provide legal intervention, homeownership counseling and education to prevent foreclosure
- provide financial literacy education, helping families build assets and better manage income
- provide essential services and basic needs such as food, shelter, rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, disaster support or primary healthcare
Community Resources and Collaboratives:
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.
Alaska 2-1-1 is a free, confidential, health and human services information and referral system brought to you by United Ways of Alaska. Getting connected to the help you need is easy. Speak directly with an Information and Referral Specialist live by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., by pressing “1” Monday through Friday or you may search our online data base 24/7.
State of Alaska Economic and Workforce Development Statistics
Kids Count Alaska collects and publicizes information on the health, safety and economic well-being of children in Alaska.
View the full Community Plan here (.ppt 431KB)
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