United Way North Central Florida Awards Two $20,000 Grants to Support Financial Security Throughout North Central Florida
United Way North Central Florida (UWNCFL) is grateful to announce the awarding of two separate Grants, one $20,000 Grant to Peaceful Paths, and another $20,000 Grant to Partnership for Strong Families. This investment is focused on ensuring financial security for residents in the North Central Florida region, specifically ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households.
Peaceful Paths is a certified domestic violence center that serves survivors of domestic violence in Alachua, Bradford, and Union counties. Peaceful Paths provides a wide range of services including emergency shelter, 24-hour helpline, victim advocacy, children’s programming, economic empowerment education and support, crisis counseling, support groups, community awareness and intervention, and violence prevention programs. The $20,000 Grant will go to specifically empower ALICE survivors and their children by removing barriers they encounter as they work to create lives free of violence. The most significant, and often unmet, needs rest within housing, childcare, and transportation. By assisting survivors with one-time financial support, Peaceful Paths will help domestic violence victims and their children prevent economic disaster following the crisis and trauma of abuse.
Financial abuse is a prevalent tactic, present in almost every Peaceful Paths clients’ experience of assuming power and control in their relationships. Providing survivor housing, childcare, or transportation support has the potential to be the pivotal starting point of building a foundation as they begin writing a new narrative of financial stability and independence for their lives. Plus, knowing financial support is available can be a key factor to a survivor taking steps forward. ALICE individuals and families display a special need, living precariously close to financial catastrophe. With basic need support, survivors will be able to take full advantage of free and confidential programming to create a path forward filled with hope and opportunity that includes financial freedom.
The mission of Partnership for Strong Families is to enhance the community’s ability to protect and nurture children by building, maintaining, and continuously improving a network of family support services. The awarded $20,000 Grant will go to support their Rural Emergency Assistance Program, which serves Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties, as well as the Community Resource Navigation (CRN) Program, which reaches rural areas of Alachua County. In its seventh year, the Rural Emergency Assistance provides one-time aid to Resource Center patrons who demonstrate a verifiable need for emergency assistance with necessities such as rent, utilities, mortgages, internet, vehicle repairs, essential prescription drugs, and employment-related childcare.
The Rural Emergency Assistance Program addresses critical gaps left by other assistance programs, with a focus on rural communities, support for ALICE households, immediate response time, and assistance with needs beyond rent and utilities. While there is other programming in the Tri-County area that offers limited emergency rent assistance to low-income households, ALICE households do not meet the income requirements for this support. Similarly, emergency rent assistance is often limited in Alachua County, especially in rural communities where transportation presents an additional barrier. With access to the full array of services available through these Programs, participants receive coordinated support to identify unmet needs, reduce barriers to success, and build skills needed to maintain long-term financial stability.
"These investments reflect our commitment to supporting hardworking ALICE households who are often one unexpected expense away from crisis," said Amber Miller, President and CEO of United Way North Central Florida. She continued, "By partnering with organizations like Peaceful Paths and Partnership for Strong Families, we are removing critical barriers to safety and stability and helping families across our region build a stronger, more financially secure future."
UWNCFL’s investment in Peaceful Paths and Partnership for Strong Families aligns with its overarching mission to enhance lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities for the common good. With a focus on four key impact areas; financial security, healthy community, youth opportunity, and community resiliency, and utilizing ALICE data, UWNCFL directs funding towards nonprofit programs that are in alignment with the organization’s strategic funding initiatives.
By focusing on ALICE households, this initiative ensures that those who are working hard to make ends meet receive the necessary support to overcome immediate challenges and build a more financially secure future.
Community engagement and support are vital for the success of these initiatives. United Way North Central Florida invites local residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute to their mission by volunteering, donating, or advocating for the needs of ALICE households. Together, these collective efforts will strengthen the fabric of community and contribute to a more resilient society.