BOLD GOALS for the future

by 2030, we will decrease the number of individuals below self-sufficiency by 11,000.

United Way of the Piedmont has identified three key goals to ensure a path to prosperity for every person in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties. These goals are ambitious and bold. But we know if we work together, we can transform our community.

BOLD GOALS

List of Services

Decrease the number INDIVIDUALS BELOW SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY 11,000 (10%)
To be self-sufficient means an individual or family can pay for their basic needs without any form of public or private assistance. Self-sufficiency means you can make ends meet, but sometimes it's harder than we think.

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Decrease the number of cost burdened low-income households by 6,000 (10%)
Low-income households struggle to find affordable housing in our community. Cost burdened households end up spending more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving little for other expenses or savings.

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Decrease the number of individuals living in poverty who are unemployed by 75% (3,700)
Barriers to employment are often the greatest obstacle to self-sufficiency. Finding affordable childcare and transportation is extremely difficult for working families.

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our strategies

Advocacy is more than public policy and reaching out to elected officials. Advocacy also includes educating community members on the issues facing our community.
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ADVOCACY

United Way is more than a fundraiser. We invest in programs that meet the highest standards of impact. In fact, we have implemented an investment model called Results Based Accountability (RBA).
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BEST PRACTICE

United Way of the Piedmont is the leader in financial stability in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties. We are the local experts because we convene local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, and stakeholders to solve problems. And we are data-driven, using local data to drive impact goals.
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DATA-DRIVEN

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that means everyone. We must proactively address the inequities in our community through United Way's programs and investment.
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equity

The challenges our community faces are the not the result of one or even a few problems. They are the result of a history of inequity and a system that has fostered that inequity. We must find solutions that create real, long-term, systemic change.
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SYSTEMIC CHANGE

Trauma-informed is an approach to human services that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. The trauma-informed approach prioritizes client well-being and success.
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trauma-informed

interventions

Community Education/Advocacy

Everything starts with education and understanding the issues our community faces. United Way of the Piedmont is dedicated to educating our donors, volunteers, business and community leaders on the importance of self-sufficiency and the steps we must take to achieve our Bold Goals.

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Community Resource Coordinators

Community Resource Coordinators (CRCs) are the boots on the ground who directly case manage and coach clients to meet their goals. In a community with so many resources, it can be difficult to know where to go for what. CRCs serve as a connector to help clients meet critical needs, overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, and create pathways to economic mobility.

A Place to Call Home

Formely known as the Homeless Task Force, United Way convenes local providers and public partners to tackle homelessness in Spartanburg County.

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Homeless Prevention Fund

For many families, one unexpected expense or small decrease in income can totally disrupt a monthly budget. When making ends meet is already a challenge, one expense can force a family out of their home. The Homeless Prevention Fund is an upstream approach to try to help these families before things spiral out of control.

Transportation to Work

Transportation is one of the most significant barriers to employment. Safe, reliable transportation is expensive. One flat tire or other unexpected expense can wreak havoc on a working family's monthly budget. Not only that, but many families cannot afford to purchase a vehicle in the first place and are forced to rely on public transportation that often is inconvenient or does not travel to many of the available jobs in our community.

The Transportation to Work program was started as a pilot in 2018 with the support of a grant, and has since grown to include several strategies and partnerships to help get people to work.

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contact us

Phone: 864.582.7556

Toll Free: 1.866.345.3086

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 5624
Spartanburg, SC 29304

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