Partners in Action

Stark ZIP code disparities in Chicago reveal the profound inequality between white and Black residents. Chicago has the most significant outcome difference between these groups in the United States. United Way of Metro Chicago employs a neighborhood approach to address this, investing resources in individual communities based on their needs. We focus on an underserved neighborhood. And then we incorporate affordable housing, family wraparound services, economic development, business ownership and arts and culture support.  Read about actions United Way and its partners are taking in Chicago to make a real difference. Working with our partners, we’re helping build stronger, more equitable neighborhoods. 

In Memphis, United Way of the Mid-South has developed a strategy to break the cycle of poverty in underserved neighborhoods. The goal is to tackle the underlying issues affecting generational poverty by mobilizing and aligning community resources. At the same time, United Way is working to create equitable access to education as well as financial stability and health supports for families in poverty. It’s a complex challenge with no quick and easy solutions. But we’re making a difference. Read Deangelo’s story.
 

In the Miami-Dade region, almost 498,000 households are working at least one job but struggling to make ends meet — even for the basics. Learn more about how United Way is leading community solutions. 
 

Greater Twin Cities United Way launched Pathways Home in 2023 to prevent homelessness among young people in transition and to help them build stable lives. This approach is rooted in the fact that too many existing support systems respond only after a crisis. Read more about the Pathways Home effort. 
 

United Way of the Quad Cities is fostering a community-wide effort to empower more people with the skills and tools they need to achieve financial stability. One focus: increasing by 20% the number of Quad Cities young adults who earn a living wage. United Way partners with and invests in programs that put young adults on new career pathways, give them skills and resources to improve their economic mobility and provide them with necessities in emergencies.

United Way of New York City is committed to addressing immediate food and shelter crises for struggling New Yorkers. Find out about how its team connects families with help.  
 

The cost of living is 71% higher in San Francisco than in the rest of the U.S. And rising costs of food, gas and other essentials also make it increasingly difficult to get by. United Way of the Bay Area has pioneered an innovative solution: one-stop centers that help struggling families meet their basic needs, increase income and savings, build credit and reduce debt. Read more about its work equipping struggling families. 
 

In France, United Way is laser-focused on youth education, especially for youth from lower-income families. Alliance Pour l’Education (Alliance for Education)-United Way is building a coalition — of  employers, educators, government, NGOs and philanthropists — to serve young people in working-class neighborhoods. Read about how it’s helping youth.
 

Some 800,000 children in the UK don’t have books of their own at home, and 20% of primary schools don’t have libraries. United Way of the UK, which is based in London, is addressing that problem. Learn about how it is working to give every child the opportunity to succeed.
 

Centraide of Greater Montreal (United Way Montreal) has invested $73,198,057, with 88% of the money raised directly supporting local initiatives. This investment has benefited 375 agencies and projects, addressing critical issues such as housing, food security and financial literacy. Read about its substantial impact on the community. 
 

United Way South Africa’s Providing Equal Educational Opportunity for the Youth program is a cornerstone of community-based solutions. And it has expanded to serve the KwaZulu Natal province since its inception, in 2021. Read about how it offers a path forward for youth in disadvantaged communities. 

Poverty has severe repercussions for people of all ages, but the effects are particularly devastating for children. Research shows that poverty impacts children from birth — affecting their cognitive functioning, health and overall development. Find out how United Way is tackling the issue in Toronto.