United Way of Central Indiana sets priorities to reduce poverty
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Leaders with United Way of Central Indiana are announcing this week a new five-year strategic plan.
The plan, called Partners in Purpose, outlines four areas of concentration to support those in Central Indiana experiencing financial instability.
“Poverty is one of the greatest challenges facing Central Indiana,” United Way President and CEO Fred Payne said in a news release. “Partners in Purpose continues United Way’s 100-plus-year-old evolution from community chest to community impact partner and paves the way to make a measurable impact in our seven-county service area.”
The challenge is felt by more than 240,000 central Indiana families who live in or near poverty, according to a 2023 United Way report. The report shows this number has growth 11% since 2018.
Over the last 18 months, United Way officials have identified, through research and input-gathering, the following needs:
- Basic needs: Support for funding life-saving assistance and essentials families need to survive.
- Early childhood education: Access to early childhood care, which the organization says is “crucial to finding and maintaining employment or postsecondary educations,” as well as sets children up for success in school. United Way estimates early childhood education today is more expensive than the annual cost of in-state tuition at Indiana’s flagship universities.
- Economic mobility: Through community partnerships, investment in growing earnings and well-being for 10,000 households. The organization cites the rising cost of living as a major barrier for low-wage workers living in poverty.
- Safe and affordable housing: Rent, as one of the most expensive monthly bills, has increased more than 20% on average in Marion County since the start of the pandemic, United Way officials say, while wage have only grown 4% to 5%. The organization say more than 160,000 Central Indiana households spend more than 30% of their family budget on housing-related expenses.
The five-year plan will bring changes to United Way’s grantmaking structures. It’s current Basic Needs, Family Opportunity and Social Innovation practices will continue through the end of 2024 at which time United Way will follow a new, streamlined process.
Some reporting requirements will shift from a quarterly schedule to a biannual schedule, allowing partners that receive United Way funding more than a year to prepare for changes in the organization’s grant practices.
“Our goal is to create positive, substantial change in Central Indiana for individuals and families who need it most,” Payne said. “Poverty is not determined by a singular issue, and it can impact families for generations. But we know many of the ways to combat poverty, and we’re leaning into data and the ongoing work of our donors and community-based organizations to help us in our new approach.”
More information about United Way of Central’s Indiana Partners in Purpose plan is available on the organization’s website at www.uwci.org/partners-in-purpose.