Ourcommunityneeds

For 100 years, United Wayof theMidlands (UWM) has worked to address our community’s toughest challenges. Whilemany needs have changed, othershave evolvedand some continue to persist. Togetherwith ournetworkofdonors and community partners, we build awarenessand deploy resources where they are needed most.

Herearetheneedsandtrends we’recurrentlyseeing: Povertyis decreasing,butonein threepeoplein the metro still struggle to make endsmeet.

While themetro has relativelylowpoverty rates, ourpercentageof workingpoorisamong the worst inthe country.DatafromtheAmerican Community Surveyshows nearly 70%ofhouseholds in poverty in ourmetro include at least one worker. Inother words, we have more working families livinginpoverty than almost anywhere elseinthe country.

Inflationincreasesthe stress on familiesandour nonprofit system.

While inflationshows some signs of relief,it is still at a13-yearhigh.Andasprices foressential items rise fasterthanothers— familieswithlimited budgetsuse less,borrow ordowithout. We’re continuing to seean uptickinclientsseeking help for the first time

Inflation alsoputs stress onnonprofitsand their capacity to providesupport. Foodpantries report a 50%increasein clients, food costsareup30%and donationscannot stretch as far asin thepast.

Increasedchallenges for familiesand access barriersare creatingamentalhealth crisis especiallyamong youth.

According to a recenthealthassessment,1in 3 people inourareaarenow experiencing symptomsof chronicdepression,and programs continue to report challenges recruitingmentalhealthprofessionals to keepupwithdemand. Perhapsmost alarmingisthe riseof mentalhealthemergenciesamong youth.One localprogramis reporting record levelsofdemand, providingmore youthand families with mental health interventionsthan at any other pointin theirhistory

The number ofdisconnected youthin themetro has increasedfrom 8,900 to approximately12,000.

Residentialenvironment,incomeanda host of other factorscanaffecta youth’s connection to work and school.Many studentsservedthroughUWM investmentsenter supportprogramsmissing40% or more of school. In Nebraska,nearlyone infive studentsmissed at least10%ofdays duringthe2022 school year— making these students “chronically absent”and at riskof fallingbehind.

Theaffordablehousingcrisisis realand continues to persist —but it’s easy to forgethow urgentthe problem reallyisin themetro.

Toomanyfamiliesin ourarea face housing instability. In themetro, more than 53,000 households pay too muchin rent. These cost-burdenedhouseholds have littleleft overeach month to spendonother necessitiessuch as food, clothing, utilitiesand health care. Furthermore, 98,500 householdsneedaffordable housing, but there are fewer than 20,000dedicated units—creating a gapofalmost80,000units.So it’s nosurprise that housing and utilities represent the highestcaller needs among our 211 Helpline requests.

Asa community, we are called to meetthese momentswithperseverance, innovation and a deep passion foroneanother.UWMisproud to foster a networkoforganizationsthat work everyday to address social and economicdisparities—servingas a champion fora stronger community.

LEARNTHESIGNS–STARTTHECONVERSATION

Millions ofpeopleareaffected by mentalhealth challengeseach yearintheUnited States, andone in threepeople in themetroare experiencing chronic depression

To increaseour community’sunderstandingofmental healthchallengesand reducethebarriersassociated withseekinghelp,UWMhas developed a partnership with Region6 Behavioral Healthcare to expandaccess to free Mental HealthFirst Aid (MHFA)training.

Supportedandchampioned by UWM’s Women Unitedgroup,MHFA trainingisaskills-basedtraining coursethat takesthe fearand hesitationout of starting conversationsaboutmentalhealth by improvingone’s understandingandprovidingthe tools needed to create anactionplan.

More thanthree millionAmericanshave already become Mental HealthFirstAidersthroughthis internationally recognized, evidence-basedtraining program,and younever knowwho your training couldhelp.

For moreinformationor to signup for aMHFA class, call211orgo to: UnitedWayMidlands.org/MHFA

The Tocqueville Society

TheAlexisde Tocqueville Society is comprisedofdonors who give at a levelof $10,000or more annually.