United Way of the Piedmont secures Americorps grant to expand financial stability work
September 7, 2017
United Way of the Piedmont (UWP) announced the receipt of a federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The grant provides UWP with the funds to support 16 half-time Americorps members in the communities of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union Counties.
The Americorps members will serve as Financial Stability Navigators, increasing the capacity of the nonprofits in which they serve in the area of financial stability. As Financial Stability Navigators, they will directly serve low-income households by providing case management, financial literacy services, preparing and filing income tax returns for free through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and assisting households to apply for state and federal benefits through Benefit Bank. These services will help families and individuals become more financially stable and eventually self-sufficient.
The addition of the Americorps program demonstrates United Way of the Piedmont’s commitment to long term strategies and will expand the work of UWP’s existing 2,000 in 2,000 Initiative. The 2,000 in 2,000 Initiative, led by UWP’s Financial Stability Task Force, was established in April of 2016 with the goal of moving 2,000 families onto the path of self-sufficiency in 2,000 days. September 1 marked day 520 and there are already 400 people on the path to a more financially stable future.
United Way of the Piedmont President and CEO, Paige Stephenson, says, “The work of these Americorps members as Financial Stability Navigators is critical to our strategic goal of insuring individuals and families are able to meet their basic needs and build economic self-sufficiency.”
The 16 Americorps members will be hosted in eleven nonprofits including Access Health, Greer Relief, Iron City Ministries, Middle Tyger Community Center, New Day Clubhouse, Senior Centers of Cherokee County, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Housing Authority, Upstate Family Resource Center, Upstate Warrior Solution, and United Way of the Piedmont. Executive Director of Middle Tyger Community Center, Andrea Moore, is familiar with the Americorps program having hosted Americorps service members for several years. Moore says, “Often times it’s just that one thing that pushes a family over the edge. One car repair, one illness, or one decreased paycheck.
When you’re living paycheck to paycheck one small thing can cause a downward spiral. The Americorps member will be there to help connect a family to resources if that one thing happens, but ultimately they will help families plan and save so that if it happens, it does not cause the downward spiral at all.”
United Way of the Piedmont will provide intensive training on financial stability strategies and implementation to the Americorps members starting at the end of September. The members will then begin working with their nonprofit agencies at the beginning of October.
About the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the nation’s volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
About United Way of the Piedmont
United Way of the Piedmont is a local nonprofit that fights for the education, financial stability, and health of every member of our community. Our mission is to connect, engage and inspire people to transform our community. We are more than fundraisers. We forge unique partnerships, find new solutions to old problems, and mobilize the best resources by inspiring others to join the fight. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to not just survive, but to thrive.
