Reducing poverty by strengthening stability

SANDUSKY — In Erie County, thousands of working families are doing everything right: They are employed, raising children, caring for aging parents and contributing to the local economy. Yet, for many, rising costs for housing, utilities, food, transportation and health care have made stability increasingly difficult to maintain. These households are known as ALICE — shorthand for asset-limited, income-constrained, employed — representing families who earn above the federal poverty level but still live one unexpected expense away from crisis. In response, the United Way of Erie County is aligning its community investments, partnerships and long-term strategy around a shared goal: reducing poverty by strengthening stability today and creating pathways to opportunity for the future. For many families in Erie County, it's one unexpected moment that changes everything: a car breaking down, a medical bill arriving or a utility notice showing up in the mail. Our focus is simple: the people who live here year-round, the families who keep Erie County running every day. When they are stable, our entire community is stronger. Stability as the starting point The United Way's recent community investments reflect a clear understanding of how hardship unfolds in real life. Housing instability affects health. Food insecurity impacts education. A crisis in one area can quickly cascade into others. Rather than addressing these challenges in isolation, United Way is strengthening a coordinated system of support across four interconnected pillars: income, education, health and safety net. Together these pillars form the foundation for long-term poverty reduction. Housing stability is central to that effort. The Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority "is deeply grateful for this partnership," said Ralph Chamberlain, the authority's executive director. "This investment from United Way of Erie County will allow (the housing authority) to deliver practical, meaningful tenant education that supports housing stability and self-sufficiency," Chamberlain added. Programs like "Ready to Rent can prepare participants for successful tenancies and help reduce barriers to securing and maintaining housing, benefiting residents, landlords, and the broader community alike." Opportunity beyond crisis Preventing a crisis is only part of the work. Reducing poverty also requires creating real opportunity, particularly through education, workforce development and leadership pathways that prepare residents for long-term success. "We are thankful to the United Way of Erie County for this meaningful investment in BGSU Firelands," BGSU Firelands Dean Allia Carter said. The United Way continues to support BGSU in many ways and vice versa. BGSU Firelands investments, for instance, went to scholarships for workforce development and a leadership speaker series. "This grant represents the second seed in our $1 million Promise Scholarship campaign, which is designed to ensure students with financial need across Erie, Huron, Sandusky, Ottawa and Lorain counties are not stopped by cost," Carter added. "It also allows us to expand leadership and workforce development opportunities that prepare students for local employment while advancing a public leadership speaker series focused on regional priorities and community needs," Carter said. "This partnership reflects what is possible when a community comes together around access, opportunity, and long-term impact." A safety net that preserves dignity For individuals and families already in crisis, immediate support remains critical, not as an endpoint but as a bridge back to stability. "This support and partnership with United Way means more than a bed for the night: It means safety, dignity and a chance to start over," said LaRaun Clayton, vice president of veterans and housing at Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana. "Because of our partnership, people in crisis at Crossroads (Homeless Shelter in Sandusky) have a place where they're not just sheltered but supported as they work toward stable housing, health, and hope for the future." Together crisis response, housing stability and opportunity-building form a continuum that reflects the real journey many local families face as they work to stay afloat and move forward. A community network working together The United Way's work is carried out through a diverse network of trusted partners serving Erie County residents across neighborhoods, age groups and needs with focused efforts in communities, such as the South Side neighborhood in Sandusky and Milan. The United Way of Erie County's current allocation partners include: • BGSU Firelands • Community Action Commission of Erie, Huron & Richland Counties • Erie Metropolitan Housing Authority • Safe Harbour Domestic Violence Shelter • Erie County Senior Center (Meals on Wheels) • Father's Heart Food Pantry • Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana/Crossroads Homeless Shelter • Catholic Charities • The Kinship House • American Red Cross of North Central Ohio • NAACP Sandusky Unit 3199 • UNDRSTR • Erie County Development Corp. • New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church • Ebenezer Baptist Church Lifelong Learners Foundation Each partner plays a distinct role but all are aligned around the same purpose: ensuring that working families in Erie County have the stability and support needed to move forward. Looking ahead The United Way leaders emphasize that this work is not a one-year effort or a single initiative but part of a broader, long-term approach to addressing poverty in Erie County. "ALICE is not a failure: It's a signal. It tells us that working families need systems that work better for them. Success means fewer families falling into crisis, faster recoveries when setbacks happen and more households able to build a future with dignity and security right here at home." The United Way of Erie County will continue engaging partners, donors, employers and community members as it shapes the next phase of its work, focused not only on responding to poverty, but on reducing it. More information about upcoming community initiatives will be shared in the months ahead. For more information, people can email staff@uweriecounty.org or visit unitedwayerie.org or uweriecounty.org/our-programs.