Free Money, Enrichment Scholarships Offered To Newtown ALICE Families

By John Voket April 4, 2017 Are you living in a Newtown ALICE household? If so, Newtown Social Services may have some free money for you. ALICE, as identified by United Way agencies, is Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — basically a paycheck to paycheck household that may be one major car repair, illness, or …

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Incentive to Save- New program promises reward for families meeting six-month goal

By Rob Ryser March 26, 2017 A new program to help Connecticut working families struggling to make ends meet start savings accounts promises a $60 reward if they save for six months. It may not sound like a lot of money, but it might be just the incentive some families need to start saving, sponsors …

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Connecticut United Ways Announce Partnership to Help ALICE® Households Build Emergency Savings

March 28,2017 Connecticut United Ways are partnering with a San Francisco based nonprofit organization called EARN to bring a matched savings program to ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households in the State of Connecticut. The EARN Starter Savings Program is a six-month matched savings program in which individuals earning no more than 80% of …

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We need to change the conversation about poverty and inequality. It starts with compassion and kindness.

By Karen Weese March 10,2014; Republished March 14, 2017 Nicole Larson was the kind of person whose smile always made you want to smile back. It was only after a while that it struck you: She always smiled with her mouth closed. It had been six years since Nicole last sat in a dentist’s chair, …

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United Ways Release 2016 ALICE® Multi-State Comparison of Financial Hardship

January 19, 2017 In 2016, United Ways in Connecticut, released their 2nd state-specific ALICE Report. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is a household with income above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic cost-of-living Household Survival Budget. A new ALICE Multi-State Comparison, compares data across 13 states: Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, …

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Equality means dignity: Report highlights how working Americans struggle

By Ali Solis and Eileen Fitzgerald January 23, 2017 This week we celebrated the contributions of a great American Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The United Way’s recently released ALICE report raises the question of whether Dr. King’s Dreams for America are achievable in today’s society. The movement that Dr. King led was not …

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Engaging Local Planning to Increase Housing Options for Our Next Generation

By Richard Porth January 17, 2017 In Connecticut, like other northeastern states, we worry about the out-migration of our young, talented workers, including our sons and daughters, to other states. You might think that these young people leave to pursue job opportunities elsewhere. A number of studies indicate that this may be true for some, …

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Connecticut housing costs remain steep for many, but number of affordable units rising

By Mary O’Leary December 13, 2016 Connecticut’s income inequality remained the second-worst in the country behind New York, “a gap adding to the housing-cost burden experienced by low- and moderate-income families: like other goods and services, those who can pay more drive up costs. The United Way of Connecticut found that almost half of all …

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