Blog

Heart of Florida United Way Supports Seminole County Families During Pandemic

Heart of Florida United Way Invests More Than $1 Million to Support Basic Needs for ALICE Families During COVID-19
11 Agencies Awarded Total of $1,045,000 to Provide Needed Support to ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Families in Central Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (December 21, 2020) – Today, Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) announced investments in community agencies that provide basic needs support to Central Florida families. In total, $1,045,000 was distributed for immediate use by the agencies to help address growing community needs as COVID-19 continues to impact local families’ stability. Investments range from $45,000 to $195,000 and are based upon scale of programs, capacity to serve, and increased demand.

“We know that before COVID-19 impacted Central Florida’s economy that nearly half of our population was ALICE or Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. Now, many who were struggling to make ends meet before have reduced income and even less stability,” said Jeff Hayward, President & CEO, Heart of Florida United Way. “More people are in need than ever, which strains the safety net of nonprofits in our community. We understand that resources to meet increased demand are scarce, so through general operating support investments, these hard-working agencies can keep their operations running a little longer to meet the needs of Central Floridians.”

The following agencies received a portion of the $1 million investment in basic needs:

1. Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc.: $45,000 (Tri-County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports, Affordable Housing), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food)

2. Christian Service Center for Central Florida, Inc.: $70,000 (Orange County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food)

3. Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida: $150,000 (Orange County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports, Affordable Housing), Basic Needs (Low Barrier Emergency Shelter/Housing, Congregate Meals and Food)

4. Harbor House of Central Florida: $90,000 (Orange County)

• Issues Addressed: Education (Early Childhood/School Readiness), Financial Stability (Income Supports, Manageable Expenses), Basic Needs (Low Barrier Emergency Shelter/Housing, Congregate Meals and Food)

5. Help Now of Osceola: $90,000 (Osceola County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports, Manageable Expenses), Basic Needs (Low Barrier Emergency Shelter/Housing, Congregate Meals and Food)

6. Osceola Council on Aging: $95,000 (Osceola County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Family-Sustaining Employment, Income Supports, Affordable Housing), Health (Supporting Healthy Choices), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food, Services for Seniors)

7. SafeHouse of Seminole: $90,000 (Seminole County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports, Manageable Expenses), Health (Supporting Healthy Choices), Basic Needs (Low Barrier Emergency Shelter/Housing, Congregate Meals and Food)

8. The Salvation Army Orlando: $195,000 (Orange County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports), Basic Needs (Low Barrier Emergency Shelter/Housing, Congregate Meals and Food)

9. The Salvation Army, Sanford Corp: $45,000 (Seminole County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Income Supports), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food)

10. Second Harvest Food Bank: $130,000 (Tri-County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Family-Sustaining Employment, Income Supports), Health (Supporting Healthy Choices), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food)

11. The Sharing Center: $45,000 (Seminole County)

• Issues Addressed: Financial Stability (Family-Sustaining Employment, Income Supports, Manageable Expenses, Savings and Assets), Basic Needs (Congregate Meals and Food)

This is the first in a series of investments under HFUW’s revamped “Investor Model,” which allows for flexibility to respond to unanticipated needs, crises, or opportunities. The Investor Model also provides general operating support ensuring that the dollars are more valuable to agencies, have greater impact, and continues to allow HFUW to base the size of the investment on performance outcomes. The model also includes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing HFUW to invest in, and capture all of the impact, as opposed to limiting it to discreet, compartmentalized programming, as well as maintain accountability for the performance.

Visit www.HFUW.org to learn more about the new Investor Model and about Heart of Florida United Way.

______________

About Heart of Florida United Way

Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) is Central Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and the largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical health and human service programs. In 2018-19, it raised and managed more than $22.4 million in total resources, including $16.6 million raised for the Community Fund that invests in dozens of vitally important programs in the community throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. HFUW fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in Central Florida. It operates United Way 2-1-1, Central Florida’s information and assistance, crisis, suicide and referral helpline; Volunteer Resource Center and the Ryan White program, which administers nearly $3.2 million to provide HIV/AIDS services and referrals. HFUW impacts more than 400,000 individuals annually through its direct service and funded programs. United Way partners with local businesses, government, other charities to increase awareness of local health and human service issues and to inspire hope, provide options and create possibilities for people in need. Visit www.HFUW.org for more information, or call (407) 835-0900.