United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

Convening/Backbone SupportEarly Learning Hubs - Every child should arrive at kindergarten ready for school success. That's why UWCW is proud to co-manage two new regional hubs focused on early learning: Early Learning Multnomah (ELM) and Early Learning Washington County (ELWC). In Oregon, there are 16 hubs, or regional-based groups, appointed by the State of Oregon's Early Learning Council that are designed with the intent to improve educational outcomes for Oregon's youngest children, age 0-6. (see Schedule O for more information)Under the early learning hub model, all sectors that touch early childhood education (early childhood educators; K-12 school districts; health, social, and human service organizations; nonprofits; municipalities; and the private sector) are tasked with working together to align their services in order ensure that children arrive at school prepared to learn, with an equal opportunity to succeed. Albina Rockwood Promise Neighborhood Initiative (ARPNI) - ARPNI is a U.S. Department of Education multi-million-dollar federal grant to support neighborhoods of opportunity by providing a continuum of school readiness and academic services, as well as family and community supports, to children from early childhood through college-and beyond. The five year program is led by Self Enhancement, Inc., in partnership with Albina Head Start, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Latino Network, Metropolitan Family Service, Native American Youth and Family Center, UWCW, Portland Public Schools, and Reynolds School District. UWCW is spearheading the research component of the initiative, surveying community members in the Albina and Rockwood neighborhoods and surveying students in our partner middle and high schools. The survey results will help identify community priorities like neighborhood safety, affordable housing as well as school activities, with the goal of understanding what students need from cradle to career, both at home and at school. Disaster & Crisis Resiliency: After the devastating wildfires in 2020, there was a need to help communities foster strong resilience and support. Thus, the Disaster Resiliency Learning Collaborative was launched with the help of the Oregon Health Authority and Trauma Informed Oregon. This seven-week, multi-language pilot program convened 15 community-based organizations and 28 community leaders of color to focus on healing from the 2020 wildfires and the ongoing threat of climate related disasters in our region. After the educational program had finished, organizations who participated in the program were eligible to apply for a grant, and United Way of the Columbia-Willamette was able to provide funds to 12 community-based organizations totaling $179,000 for projects to build resilience for communities of color most prone to climate-related disasters such as wildfires, heatwaves and floods. The program proved to be so successful that the Oregon Health Authority awarded United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Trauma Informed Oregon $415,000 to continue the work of this important program.

Hands on Greater Portland - Hands on Greater Portland activities focus on results-based, meaningful volunteer service and the belief that volunteers enrich their lives and the lives of others when they address community needs. The program strives to connect volunteers with opportunities to meet important community needs, including senior services, education, services for the homeless, and restoration of the environment.

Community Investment Housing Stability: Last year, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette granted Oregon Law Center $200,000 to expand their capacity to provide legal help to families facing eviction. The grant allowed Oregon Law Center to recruit lawyers who reflect the communities they serve while also providing families of color access to multilingual eviction prevent support. (See Schedule O for more information)The support paved the way for Oregon Law Center, Portland Housing Bureau's Rental Services Office, and Portland Community College's CLEAR Clinic to launch the Eviction Legal Defense Program with $3 million provided by the Portland Housing Bureau. United Way of the Columbia-Willamette serves as an administrative hub and pays the costs to remedy evictions which may also include rent arrears for participants in the program. This collaboration serves those in our community receiving 30% to 60% of area median income, and many of the clients we have referred to the program are facing arrears of more than $6,000, the average eviction rate for Multnomah County. To date, we have helped prevent 165 households from becoming houseless through lawyer assistance and rent arrears. After years of pandemic disruption, the need for this support will only grow, and we look forward to expanding this important eviction prevention program alongside our partners.Additionally, UWCW awarded $1.2 million to Bybee Lakes Hope Center. The grant more than doubled the housing shelter's capacity from 126 to 318 beds, including the rainbow residential wing that will offer culturally responsive services to the LGBTQIA+ community and increased capacity to serve families and individuals.Community Safety Net: The Community Safety Net funding strategy is designed to provide critical aid for the most vulnerable families through short-term, non-competitive investments in supportive programs that provide housing, food, heat, utilities, and other essential needs for individuals that, due to an unforeseen personal crisis, disaster, or emergency in their lives, would benefit from additional assistance.Donor Choice - United Way offers donor the opportunity to designate their gift directly to 501 (3) organizations of their choice. Donations given through United Way provide support to a wide variety of nonprofits and help keep fundraising cost low for these organizations as well as increasing philanthropy within the community.