Financial Self Sufficiency

1 in 3 working parents in San Diego don’t earn enough to support their families. They are walking a financial tightrope — barely able to get by, with no ability to save for college, a home or retirement.
 
Foster youth are particularly hard hit by the realities of independent adulthood. Only half will receive high school diplomas and most exit the foster care system with no support or plan in place to secure a healthy future. As a result, 50% will be unemployed or homeless during their first two years after foster care.

United Way focuses it's work on several strategies to help financially struggling San Diegans manage their money and build a strong future:

• Family-sustaining employment — Our "Bright Futures" initiative helps adults move beyond financial education to job skills development. In addition, funding of IT skills training and support of a medical assistant program enables hundreds of adults to earn higher wages.

• Income supports — San Diego has one of the lowest rates of food stamps usage in the country.  As a leader in the local Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition (EITC) United Way is bringing free tax prep services and benefits screening to those who need it most. Accessing income supports such as EITC tax credits, CalFresh (food stamps), MediCal or other benefits, can make the difference between heartbreaking struggle or financial stability. This year, the coalition helped San Diegans gain an increase of $1 million in EITC dollars over the prior tax year.

• Manageable Expenses — Through our "Bright Futures" initiatives, San Diegans gain the financial literacy and job skills they need to be financially stable and earn a living wage. Funded partners include Community Housing Works, International Rescue Committee, MAAC Project, Money Management International, North County Lifeline, SAY San Diego, San Diego Housing Commission and South Bay Community Services.

• Savings and Assets —  With United Way funding, The International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers Individual Development Accounts (matched savings accounts) that help refugees save for a car, personal computer, college tuition or a deposit on their first apartment. The IRC also offers microloans for credit building, emergencies and credit repair.

What does it mean to have improved job skills? It can mean the world.
Listen to some grateful San Diegans who participated in a Medical Assistant training program funded by the San Diego Workforce Funders Collaborative.  Lead funding was provided by the Gary and Mary West Foundation and other area grantmakers. United Way funded critical transportation, childcare and classroom expenses such as books and other educational materials, that enabled clients to participate in the classes.  The students, who were already in the health care field, will now be able to move up the career ladder and improve their earnings.
 
“I got money for transportation and now I’m so excited because I can finish my MA course.”
 
“Now that I have my three month old boy, I know that I have a lot to offer him. I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys changed my life.”
 Click here to see the video