United Way Allocates Grants Based on New Process

The United Way of the Big Bend (UWBB) announced that twenty programs serving Leon County will receive $1.6 million in grants based on a new funding process.

In 2018, UWBB underwent a strategic planning process to reset the mission of the organization. The process was guided guided by the ALICE Report and other community data. ALICE is the acronym for Asset, Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed – simply put the working poor.

Based on the ALICE Report, the UWBB mission is to help those living in poverty and the working poor. The organizational reset established three goals and five priority outcome areas.

The three goals are to help this population gain access to basic necessities, achieve economic stability and develop skills to either help gain employment or move up the economic ladder.

The five funding priority outcomes anchor the three goals. Housing, Early Learning (to include elementary age and younger), Safety Net, Aging Workforce (to also include retired seniors) and Skills Development are the five funding priority outcomes.

Listed below are the 2019-20 Program Allocations

Housing

Big Bend Habitat for Humanity – $217,428
Brehon House – $75,000
Housing Assistance Program – $54,683
HOPE Community Family Shelter – $50,000

Early Learning

Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend – $196,928
The Learning Pavillion – $95,500
School-Based Mentoring – $54,683
Community-Based Mentoring – $50,000
Childcare Tuition Assistance – $50,000

Safety Net

Food Bank Operations – $93,000
Residential Servoce Program -$150,000
Helpline 2-1-1 – $69,408
Someplace Else Shelter – $50,100
Medical/Legal Partnership – $50,000

Aging Workforce

Nutrition Services – $71,519
In-Home & Community Base Services – $50,000

Skills Development

REfire Cullinary – $52,000
Adult Literacy & English for Speakers of Other Languages – $60,000
Getting Ahead – $80,000
Employment Readiness & Support – $50,000