Income

Several programs that we fund include a 'self-sufficiency' component; for most that means increasing or developing, a base income level. Opportunities for improving ones income base come in different ways – financial literacy and understanding your credit scores is just one part of that process. Utilizing referral and assistance programs to make ends meet until the consumer overcomes immediate barriers are other steps in the process. Crisis programs play a part of meeting this emergency need along with other resources in the community. Programs that offer case management services to assist and sometimes 'redirect' the consumer often document successes from getting into emergency housing to renting or leasing a home or apartment.

Among the general population, 43% of the people with the lowest literacy skills live in poverty with 70% of those having no job or part-time job. Today 66% of all jobs in the United States require skills associated with some education beyond high school, yet Wisconsin has the worst drop-out rate in the United States ranking 50 out of 50. Fortunately, the unemployment rate in Douglas County has slowly been improving over the last few months.

United Way supports mentoring and tutoring programs throughout the programs and services we fund; the connection between education and income go hand-in-hand.