INCOME
HELPING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS EMERGE FROM CRISES AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY

AMERICA HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A LAND WHERE HARD WORK LEADS TO SUCCESS.

Today, that commonly held ideal is in peril. Wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, health care, child care, gas and other needs. As a result, as many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs.

We are committed to helping individuals and families in our community achieve financial stability. By bringing together community partners, we help lower-income individuals and families achieve financial independence by providing the skills necessary to maximize their income, build savings and gain assets.

United Way of the Wabash Valley's specific initiatives under Income are:
  • Supporting basic needs such such as food, shelter and clothing.  A Safety Net!  The goal of which is to empower people to become more self-sufficient and independent over time.
  • Helping adults improve literacy skills.
  • Promoting financial responsibility.
  • Obtain or retain affordable housing.


Did you know that nationally:

–  More than 20 percent of workers are currently employed in full-time, year-round jobs that pay less than the federal
    poverty level.

–  More than 90 million Americans - one-third of the U.S. population—are struggling to make ends meet with salaries
    less than $40,000 per year.

–  Credit card debt in America has tripled, from $238 billion in 1989 to over
   $850 billion in 2008.

–  The personal savings rate in 2006 was negative 1 percent, the lowest since the 1930s.

–  For the years 2003 and 2004, just over 50 percent of all personal bankruptcies were the result of medical debt by
    those with health insurance.

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN VIGO COUNTY?  (statistics courtesy of Kids Count)

Per Capita Income (Currency) Showing most recent 5 years
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$25,150 $26,361 $26,419 $27,649 $28,072
Unemployment Rate (annual average) (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years; Show All Years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
7.2% 6.7% 6.3% 5.3% 6.5%
Median Family Income (Currency)
2000
$42,957
Monthly Average of Families Receiving TANF (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
991 951 888 911 890
Monthly Average of Persons Issued Food Stamps (FY) (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
11,471 11,997 12,605 13,266 13,772
# of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participants (Number) Showing most recent 5 years; Show All Years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
3,719 3,837 3,932 4,069 4,418

 


DID YOU KNOW THAT IN CLAY COUNTY?

Per Capita Income (Currency) Showing most recent 5 years
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$22,774 $23,869 $23,864 $24,943 $26,026
Unemployment Rate (annual average) (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
6.5% 6.9% 5.6% 5.7% 7.1%
Median Family Income (Currency)
2000
$41,863
Monthly Average of Families Receiving TANF (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
207 219 203 142 126
Monthly Average of Persons Issued Food Stamps (FY) (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2,383 2,561 2,708 2,742 3,028
# of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participants (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1,514 1,521 1,520 1,445 1,493

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN SULLIVAN COUNTY?
Per Capita Income (Currency) Showing most recent 5 years
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
$20,749 $22,197 $22,189 $23,292 $24,570
Unemployment Rate (annual average) (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
7.4% 7.3% 6.0% 5.5% 6.7%
Median Family Income (Currency)
2000
$39,290
Monthly Average of Families Receiving TANF (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
135 135 118 119 124
Monthly Average of Persons Issued Food Stamps (FY) (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
2,027 2,130 2,127 2,179 2,255
# of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participants (Number) Showing most recent 5 years
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
801 762 745 754 822
% of Students Receiving Free Lunches (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
30.4% 30.3% 31.0% 32.4% 33.3%
% of Students Receiving Reduced Priced Lunches (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
10.9% 12.0% 11.5% 12.8% 12.6%
% of Children in Poverty, Age 0-17 (Percent) Showing most recent 5 years
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
16.3% 17.7% 19.3% 19.6% 19.4%

THE WORK OF UNITED WAY
     To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead financially, United Way promotes community-change strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial stability that will allow them to plan for-and accomplish-their long-term financial goals.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT   

GIVE
     United Way is focused on the building blocks for a good life-education, income, and health. We’re right here in Anytown is working to advance the common good. With your help we can reignite a movement that is committed to creating opportunities for everyone.

ADVOCATE
     Anyone can champion the cause. Whether you’re encouraging your local bank to offer affordable financial products or advocating for an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit with members of Congress, you can help inspire hope and create opportunities for a better tomorrow. So go ahead and advocate in a LIVE UNITED world. Do it in public. Be visible. Be loud!

VOLUNTEER
     Give an hour.  Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether you volunteer at a free tax prep site, serve as a budget coach, or work at a local food bank, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.  Give the gift of you.  Volunteer. Search for volunteer opportunities at United Way of the Wabash Valley!
 
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