More than 60 percent of Allegheny County’s impoverished residents live in suburban neighborhoods, according to a 2013 report by the Brookings Institution, and veterans make up about 33 percent of Pittsburgh’s homeless population.
Those are just two of the reasons why the United Way of Allegheny County announced Wednesday that the nonprofit will expand several programs over the next three years to improve the quality of life for struggling families, women and veterans in the region.
Morgan O’Brien, United Way board chair, said plenty of programs exist to assist those living below the poverty line, but not many work to help those on or just above the line.
“We’ve had lots of people who still have challenges – hundreds of thousands of individuals and families who, sort of, are being left behind, unless we as a community make sure that doesn’t happen,” O’Brien said.
Under the “Helping Families Thrive” initiative, the United Way will increase funding for United for Women, an organization that helps women experiencing unexpected crises; Project Serve, which supports returning veterans and their families; and the Money in Your Pocket Coalition, which provides free tax preparation for low-income workers.
The model comes from the United Way of Greater Houston, which, since its implementation in 2008, has helped more than 52,000 families reach financial stability.
“This ‘Helping Families Thrive’ strategy is designed to help even more people by leveraging dollars, people and program to strengthen the community’s safety net and to expand opportunities for struggling families to achieve long-term financial stability,” Julie DeSeyn, director of community impact for the United Way of Allegheny County, said.
The project will also support PA 2-1-1 Southwest, the United Way’s emergency help line, which expects to receive more than 71,000 calls this year. About 75 percent of callers request assistance with basic needs, such as food, shelter and transportation, according to the United Way.
“We’re going to be expanding a lot of efforts: helping people connect with employment to make sure that they don’t lose their homes, that they’re keeping safe and that they’re making basic needs,” DeSeyn said.
As an additional safety net, the nonprofit will also expand its Emergency Basic Needs Fund, which provides one-time financial assistance to up to 1,000 people experiencing an unexpected crisis, such as a medical disability or a household utility issue.
The organization released a public request for proposals Monday that will divide $11 million among as many as 15 nonprofit groups. More than 40 groups have applied so far. The funding allocations will be announced in June.
