United Way of Hall County believes that many families and individuals face obstacles to achieving financial stability and independence. Our aspiration is that all residents of Hall County have opportunities to meet their basic needs and achieve self-sufficiency. United Way of Hall County supports families as they actively pursue stability and independence by investing in:
Resources providing food, shelter and clothing - As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. In Georgia, 28% of children under the age of 18 live in “food insecure” households. The USDA defines food insecurity as the lack of access to adequate food resulting from lack of money and other resources.(Feeding America, Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity, August 2011)
Addressing barriers to self-sufficiency – Because of the neighborhood they live in, credit history or lack of transportation, low-income working families often pay more for basic goods and services than families with higher incomes. Connecting families with appropriate consumer education will promote better management of income, help avoid debt and enhance their ability to save.
Promotion of financial security - Family-sustaining employment is the foundation of financial security. Many working adults earn less than $25,000 annually, which is just above the poverty rate for a family of four (2012 Federal Poverty level guidelines for a family of four is $23,050). These workers often struggle to afford food, rent, childcare, and transportation, with little left over for saving and investing. Families must have a steady source of income that covers the cost of basic necessities before they can make long-term financial decisions regarding savings and asset-building.
