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Today, community issues stemming from personal, economic and environmental factors are growing increasingly complex and more difficult. More and more, hardworking individuals and families are unable to get ahead financially.
Wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and education in many areas, and skill levels have not stayed in alignment with changing industry needs. As a result, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population has an income below the federal poverty level, in spite of the fact that many are employed, some with two or three jobs.
Many individuals and families are walking a financial tightrope - they are barely getting by, with no ability to save for college, a home, or for retirement. Credit card debt in America has tripled, from $238 billion in 1989 to over $850 billion today, with one out of three households using credit cards to cover basic living expenses - including rent, mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, and insurance. "Generation Xers" (individuals born between 1961 and 1981) are on track to be the first generation in American history with lower standard of living than their parents'.
The United Way movement seeks to strengthen communities by identifying and tacking the underlying causes of the most serious social issues facing our nation. Increasingly, the economic and financial pressures facing hard-working people are exacerbating other social issues. So United Way has expanded its work to include strengthening the financial stability of individuals and families.
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