United Way of the Csra

Emergency rent and utility assistance:in addition to the usual referrals made by 211 information and referral specialists, United Way of the Csra partnered with augusta-richmond county's housing and community development department to provide rent and/or utility assistance to richmond county residents impacted by covid-19 for a second year. Funding for this program is provided by the us department of treasury's emergency rental assistance (era) program as a part of the covid19 economic relief package of the american rescue plan. Support for families included up to 15 months in rental arrears, past due power, water, and gas bills as well as an additional three months of prospective rent if required for the family to remain stably housed. United Way received $5,486,367 in 2021 to assist with our internal capacity to administer the program as well as the funding for the direct services to clients. the project was renewed in 2022 at $5,046,910.28. An additional amount $7,800,000 million was reallocated to richmond county and made available to United Way of the Csra midway through the year. This additional amount was only available the december, but this allowed us to save the previous awared amount for the 2023 calendar year. In 2022, we provided 1,783 households with $4,541,499.24 in assistance.rent and utility assistance is the primary need of those individuals using the 211 information and referral services. United Way of the Csra uses additional donations, such as proceeds donated from the annual guitar pull event sponsored by beasley broadcasting group and other private donations designated for this specific purpose, to provide services to people in need who may not qualify under the era assistance program specific to richmond county. These funds provided 377 additional households with rent and/or utility assistance for 2022. These households included families of richmond county, but also families of surrounding counties.

Americorps*vista (volunteers in service to america):united Way's americorps vista program, project unite, is part of the national service program designed specifically for the purpose of fighting poverty. United Way serves as a regional intermediary agency and is assigned up to 17 americorps vista members who serve full-time for one year with area schools for capacity building in the area of parent and community engagement. Americorps vistas help build human capacity, financial capacity, and social capacity in host sites and/or schools where they are assigned. United Way of the Csra receives support funds necessary for regional program supervision and oversight from the corporation for national community service. In 2022, this program served the 6 organizations including 4 columbia county schools, engaged more than 127 volunteers and leveraged over $30,000 of cash (grants, donations and fundraising) and non-cash resources (in-kind goods and services) to support community nonprofits, and identified numerous partnerships.

Grant awards for local programs:using contributions from the annual campaign, United Way of the Csra distributes funds to 40 health and human service programs at 28 partner agencies. Program grant requests are made annually and include budget information as well as proposed impact of funds. Quarterly success stories, outcomes logic models, and annual total service reports are required under United Way's partnership agreement. Partner agencies also submit annual irs form 990s and audits as per uw policies.these funded programs are reviewed annually by groups of community volunteers to ensure appropriate usage of funds. Volunteers complete site visits and in-depth reviews of program accomplishments. Funding is targeted towards programs demonstrating an impact on the community. United Way's funding policies are designed to ensure the greatest accountability for donors' funds and the greatest impact on individuals in our local community.funded programs achieve outcomes within the following impact areas:1) childhood success2) youth success3) workforce development4) access to resources

211 information and referral program:the concept of 211 - an easy to remember 3-digit dialing code that connects people with professionally- delivered information and referral to health, community and human services - was born in atlanta in 1997 through the leadership of United Way of greater atlanta.locally, 211 has significant impact on the quality of life throughout the community. In 2022, United Way of the Csra's 211 information and referral specialists assisted 23,452 callers and web inquiries. In addition, 211 provided support to specific agencies that offered direct service in the area of emergency shelter, emergency rent and utility assistance. Providing a database of wide-ranging volunteer opportunities assists non-profit agencies in every sector of the community in maintaining a supply of dedicated, enthusiastic workers and donors to fulfill the mission of their organization. 211 is there when people need it, a vital, proven part of the human service infrastructure.single care prescription assistance:through the single care prescription assistance card program (formerly called familywize), United Way saved the community $265,914 in 2022. These free-of-charge prescription discount cards offered by United Way were used by 3,098 people through five local counties. Single care cards can be used by anyone, insured or uninsured, for prescriptions and offer an average savings of approximately 40% or more. Since its local launch in 2007, single care has provided a total savings of $3,059,957.68 to Csra residents. Other grants and initiatives:through other special grants, initiatives and collaborations, United Way positions itself as a community leader in addressing needs. These projects include additional federal, state, and local grants, special assistance, community engagement, early childhood training and education, and a host of other projects. United Way seeks out collaborations with the corporate, non-profit, faith-based, government, civic and educational communities and continually engages new partners and strategies. Some of the impacts made in 2022 include those listed here. * partnerships with the private sector, as well as the richmond county, columbia county, burke county and wilkes county school system, supported our annual stuff the bus back to school event. Donors contributed 29,956 school supply items valued at $68,510. These items were sent directly to the school systems for distribution by the counselors and social workers to children in need. * the americorps vista members collected 17,676 hygiene products valued at $23,469.50 from the community at large to support local shelters. the hygiene products are put into personal care kits for homeless or transient individuals coming into the shelters with no personal items. These items are vital to a person's health and overall sense of well-being. * our 211 team reaches out to bombas each year for donations of socks. These socks and are gifted to the local school systems for children to receive when needed. In 2022, bombas provided 10,000 pairs of socks, 600 underwear, and 360 t-shirts. This allowed for us to also provide socks to the local homeless shelter. * United Way receives funds from a grant and lyft partnership called ride United. This allows the 211 team to reserve lyft rides for callers in need of transportation. In 2022, 741 lyft rides were provided for people in need of transportation to jobs, medical appointments, and school.