United Way Inc

Goal 2: Empower neighbors to thrive - not just survive. When people have the educational and employment opportunities to become financially stable, they can pay their rent on time and put food on the table. They are also better able to save for emergencies, buy a house, pay for college, and save for retirement. This is why we work together to ensure more individuals and families in Southern Maine are more financially secure through improved education and employment opportunities. Success Measurement: By 2027, 70% of households pay less than 30% of their income on housing. UWSM funding that supports Goal 2 enabled, among other things: - 698 households moved from homelessness to safe housing.- 1,425 households accessed or maintained resources to stay sheltered and safe. - Advocated for Housing First Programs, affordable housing, free community college, student loan repayment assistance, emergency heating assistance, and free tax assistance. - In 2024, CA$H Greater Portland served over 700 households returning over $1.3 million to taxpayers in State and Federal returns and saved filing fees. This included 137 households receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit. The average adjusted gross income of CA$H clients was $23,607.Additionally, United Way of Southern Maine leads the following collaborative efforts toward this goal such as: - Women United, an individual giving group of UWSM, invests donor contributions into local programs that advance single mothers and their families through comprehensive support designed to move them toward financial stability. Investments include (1) Anchoring Youth to Succeed Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and A Company of Girls. Afterschool program with wraparound services for Project WIN children and neighborhood youth. (2) MomCore York County Community Action Corporation. Targeted coaching program focused on improving financial knowledge and household stability. (3) Mothers Thriving New Ventures Maine. Flexible, six-session class series, group support, and coaching to build confidence and skills. (4) Project HOME Trust Quality Housing Coalition. Direct cash assistance, individualized skill building, and peer-to-peer support. (5) Project WIN (Women in Neighborhoods) The Opportunity Alliance. Gathers single mothers in a cohort and provides an evidence-based coaching model to help them identify and pursue goals for their families. - United Way of Southern Maine serves as the backbone for the Southern Maine Workforce Initiative (SMWI). SMWI is a collective impact collaborative that builds on the existing work and experience of 26 community organizations and connects with the public workforce system to address workforce development issues from both sides of the spectrum, creating a dual pipeline that aligns with the needs of jobseekers and employers. Serving Cumberland and York Counties, SMWI is a vital resource ensuring access to educational and employment opportunities for those who face the greatest barriers to entering or remaining in employment. Alongside our partners, SMWI has developed innovative solutions including The Bridge Program, a customized training program that combines industry-specific programming with comprehensive support services to remove barriers for individuals entering high-demand career fields such as healthcare and child care. Participants experienced decreased barriers to training and employment, gained knowledge of career pathways, earned recognized credentials, increased income, and gained access to employment benefits and job retention supports.- United Way of Southern Maine serves as the administrator for the Local Boards of the federal Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP) for Cumberland and York Counties. This program is designed to help communities respond to local emergency food and shelter needs. EFSP funds help local existing programs, such as food pantries and shelters, expand their capacity to serve those in need. Local funding decisions are made by the Local Board, which sets priorities, advertises the availability of funds, makes funding recommendations, and provides technical support to recipient organizations throughout the grant period. In FY 24, EFSP Phase 40 was released and provided $84,164 for Cumberland County and $62,385 for York County.

Goal 3: Help us all live longer, better lives. Today, too many lives are cut short due to barriers to health, such as untreated mental health issues and substance use disorder. This is why we work to ensure that everyone in Southern Maine has opportunities to live healthier lives to reduce preventable premature death. Success Measurement: By 2027, reduce preventable premature deaths by 10%. UWSM funding that supports Goal 3 enabled, among other things: - The opioid epidemic continues to ravage Southern Maine. In 2024 there were 490 overdose deaths across the state and 147 overdose deaths in Southern Maine. This represents a 19% decrease in overdose deaths from the previous year. This is the largest reduction in overdose deaths the state has seen in years. This reduction can be attributed to the prevalence of harm reduction supplies like naloxone and test strips, as well as greater access to and awareness of recovery resources. UWSM has contributed to this effort by establishing itself as a naloxone distribution site and targeting rural communities for naloxone training. UWSM staff have trained 100 people in overdose recognition and naloxone administration and distributed over 300 doses of naloxone to libraries, food panties, businesses, and recreation departments in Southern Maine.- 364 youth received support and services to heal from trauma and abuse.- Based on UWSM's ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data, we know that 38% of households in Southern Maine are struggling to make ends meet. This means making tough financial choices about bills to pay each month. These decisions can be tough to handle mentally and emotionally, and in addition we know that 46% of adults in Maine who needed mental health care did not access it because of the cost. Through our community grant process, UWSM invested over $300,000 in nine programs to increase access and reduce barriers to behavioral health services in southern Maine.- 6,400 referrals to mental health and addiction resources in Southern Maine by UWSM supported 211 Maine. UWSM is proud to partner with United Ways of Maine and the State of Maine to provide free and confidential connections to local services including domestic violence, addiction treatment, health care, mental health resources, and financial assistance through the 211 program.

- 211 Maine is a free, confidential program that provides information and referrals to people of all ages across Maine to local services that help them meet their basic needs. 211 Maine is based in Maine and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by phone, text, and online. 211 Maine helps people find information for resources across health and human services, including heating and utilities assistance, access to food pantries, housing and shelter, and mental health services through a toll-free telephone number (211), a text option (898-211), and a robust online directory at www.211Maine.org. 211 Maine is a partnership of the United Ways of Maine, the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and The Opportunity Alliance as the contact center partner. Last year, 211 Maine Specialists fielded approximately 75,053 calls, texts, and emails, providing information and referral services, as well as operating specialized initiatives like the Opiate Helpline, Gambling Helpline, and fielding general questions about Maine's COVID-19 situation. 211 Maine provides emergency operations support during times of natural and other disasters, including assisting Maine Emergency Management Agency to field calls from those impacted by windstorms and floods and collect data to inform severity and locations of need, and direct people looking for local heating shelters or cooling centers. - Keep ME Warm is a statewide partnership of the seven United Ways in Maine and the ten Community Action Agencies (CAPs) to raise funds to supplement fuel assistance programs in Maine. Keep ME Warm is the only statewide fuel assistance fundraising effort in the state. United Way of Southern Maine is the custodian of the Keep ME Warm Fund and is responsible for collecting, distributing, and reporting. Funds contributed to the Keep ME Warm Fund are distributed based on a formula developed by United Ways in Maine and CAPs based on federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) distribution percentages and population. CAPs receive 50% of the funds, United Ways receive 25%, and 211 Maine receives 25% to fund emergency overnight assistance through 211 Maine. Donations to Keep ME Warm Fund provide emergency heating assistance. CAPs use the funds to help households that might not be eligible for limited federal, state or local fuel assistance programs. United Way funds support additional organizations and agencies in their communities that can help those in need of fuel assistance. 211 Maine aids in the distribution of funds for statewide overnight emergency fuel assistance for people who have no heat and have children or elderly family members in their household. More than $510,000 was raised for heating assistance through Keep ME Warm last year. United Way of Southern Maine estimates that more than 1,200 households were helped.- Designations are donor-directed contributions to health and human service organizations. Donors to United Way of Southern Maine's campaign may direct all or a portion of their contribution to specific nonprofit agencies that provide health and human services. Each agency's nonprofit 501(c)(3) status and compliance with the USA Patriot Act is verified before funds are distributed.- Volunteers play a vital role in improving people's lives and in helping United Way of Southern Maine reach our organizational goals. We know meaningful community solutions require more than just money, programs, or policies. The kind of real and lasting change that benefits everyone is only possible when people from all walks of life are willing to roll up their sleeves and go where their time and talent is most needed. United Way of Southern Maine is helping to support Thrive2027's (our community's commitment to three 10-year, community-wide goals, www.Thrive2027.org) success by guiding its vision and strategy, aligning partners, and sharing best practices. United Way of Southern Maine puts people at the heart of transforming their communities by calling on them to utilize their full range of assets - time, talent, and treasure. We believe volunteer efforts are the backbone of the community and strengthen the connections that create positive changes that benefit everyone. They help build the capacity of local non-profit agencies by enhancing and expanding the agency services to meet community needs. United Way of Southern Maine works with our corporate partners and others in the community to identify and recruit volunteers to fill identified needs in our schools and local nonprofits. These volunteer opportunities include readers, tax preparers, skills-based volunteers, and volunteers who are responsible for evaluating and decision-making recommendations for our community grants/investments. Through a collaborative effort with the United Ways in Maine, United Way of Southern Maine offers a statewide, searchable listing of volunteer opportunities at https://uwsme.galaxydigital.com/. This valuable tool allows organizations to post volunteer opportunities and individuals to perform a customized search. In addition to hosting and administering the site, we offer technical support to volunteers and non-profit organizations. United Way of Southern Maine organizes a variety of community events, including an annual food drive, Day of Action, literacy and meal kit assembly projects, and custom volunteer projects for corporate partners. In fiscal year 2024, 2,498 volunteers participated in custom volunteer projects or sat on United Way of Southern Maine committees and cabinets such the community investment committees, Resource Development cabinet, and many more.