What We Do

Improve Financial Stability For Everyone

What We Do

Improve Financial Stability For Everyone

Together, we have the power to ease economic hardship for our most susceptible community members by offering opportunities for employment, income, and resources to attain financial stability.

What we're up against

Kennebec County, Maine, is a wonderful place to live, work and play, but many of our neighbors and friends cannot make ends meet. Safe, affordable housing is hard to find, and as of 2022, 26% of households in our community are paying more than 30% of household income for housing (rent or mortgage, plus utilities).

By tracking these data points over a 10-year period and in collaboration with Impact2032, our goal is to decrease the percentage of households paying more than 30% of household income for housing to 23%.

Together, we have the power to ease economic hardship for our most susceptible community members by offering opportunities for employment, income, and resources to attain financial stability.

What we're up against

Kennebec County, Maine, is a wonderful place to live, work and play, but many of our neighbors and friends cannot make ends meet. Safe, affordable housing is hard to find, and as of 2022, 26% of households in our community are paying more than 30% of household income for housing (rent or mortgage, plus utilities).

By tracking these data points over a 10-year period and in collaboration with Impact2032, our goal is to decrease the percentage of households paying more than 30% of household income for housing to 23%.

How We Make It Better

The path to improved financial stability requires access to higher-paying jobs that offer opportunities for advancement. To secure such positions, individuals need appropriate post-secondary education, training, or certification. This is the fundamental factor in elevating income levels and establishing housing stability within our community. UWKV invests in 13 programs that assist individuals with housing, basic needs, transportation and the education and training necessary to attain a livable wage — paving the way for a stable and financially secure future.
Icon of three people in a home

25.8%

Percentage of households paying more than 30% of household income for housing (rent or mortgage, plus utilities).

Help make Affordable Housing
UNIGNORABLE

Access to affordable housing feels impossible to obtain, like a relentless game of cat and mouse. The housing you need always seems just beyond your reach, slipping away as you chase it. Rising rents, long waiting lists, and strict qualifications create a barrier that feels insurmountable.

As you struggle, your situation worsens. You face difficult choices between paying for temporary shelter, food, or other essentials. The stress and uncertainty weigh heavily, affecting your mental and physical health. Financial instability compounds the problem, making it hard to maintain a job, secure childcare, or attend medical appointments.

The elusive nature of affordable housing leaves you feeling powerless, as if you are constantly falling farther away from securing a stable home. Living in this state means enduring a perpetual chase, where the promise of affordable housing remains just out of reach. The desperation and frustration grow, leaving you feeling more isolated and overwhelmed. The dream of having a place to call home feels distant, overshadowed by the struggle to survive each day.

White icon depicting an eviction notice

727

Number of evictions.

Help make Homelessness
UNIGNORABLE

Homelessness can feel like a constant downward spiral, driven by mental health challenges, lack of education, and financial instability. These factors create a vicious cycle, making it increasingly difficult to secure stable housing. With rental prices skyrocketing, more people find themselves homeless through no fault of their own.

Being homeless worsens financial instability and deteriorates mental and physical health. The stress of finding shelter and necessities takes precedence over employment or education, trapping individuals in poverty. Homelessness also strains social relationships, leading to isolation and hopelessness.

The impact extends beyond the individual. Communities with high homelessness rates face increased pressure on public services, reduced economic growth, and heightened social tensions. The visibility of homelessness affects community morale, leading to insecurity and neglect.

Homelessness is not just a personal crisis; it’s a community issue. Addressing it requires comprehensive support systems, affordable housing, and accessible mental health and education services. By tackling the root causes and providing stable, affordable housing, we can break the cycle and improve overall community well-being.

White money icon

41%

Percentage of households in Kennebec County that fall below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE).

Help make Financial Stability
UNIGNORABLE

Imagine moving through life, paycheck to paycheck. Missing a single paycheck feels like the bridge beneath you has collapsed, sending you into a freefall. The descent is rapid and terrifying, with bills piling up like jagged rocks below, each one adding to your fall.

As you fall, you must make impossible choices: housing, food, gas, medical appointments, or child care. Each decision feels like sacrificing one necessity for another, with no good options. Housing keeps a roof over your head, but without food, you can’t sustain yourself. Skipping medical appointments might save money now but could lead to severe health issues later. Child care is crucial, but without gas, how do you get to work?

Debt pulls you down further, with each missed payment increasing your fall. Interest rates, late fees, and mounting debts create a crushing burden, making it harder to find a foothold. The fear of losing everything becomes all-consuming. Living paycheck to paycheck means constantly moving forward, where any misstep can send you spiraling into financial freefall, leaving you feeling vulnerable and powerless, desperately seeking stability.

COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

Skills For Employment

Stable Income

Tools For Independence

COMMUNITY PRIORITIES

Skills For Employment

Stable Income

Tools For Independence

Help us improve financial stability for everyone!

Help us improve financial stability for everyone!

FINANCIAL STABILITY PARTNERS

United Way of Kennebec Valley partners with 12 agencies throughout our community that specifically help people improve their economic stability. UWKV funds one or more program through the following organizations that are focused on improving financial stability across Kennebec County.

211 Maine

Alfond Youth & Community Center

Bread of Life Ministries

Capital Area New Mainers Project

Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church/Bridging the Gap

First Congregational Church, UCC of Waterville, Maine

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP)

Kennebec Behavioral Health

Legal Services for the Elderly

Maine Children’s Home

Rural Community Action Ministry

FINANCIAL STABILITY PARTNERS

United Way of Kennebec Valley partners with 12 agencies throughout our community that specifically help people improve their economic stability. UWKV funds one or more program through the following organizations that are focused on improving financial stability across Kennebec County.

211 Maine

Alfond Youth & Community Center

Bread of Life Ministries

Capital Area New Mainers Project

Emmanuel Lutheran Episcopal Church/Bridging the Gap

First Congregational Church, UCC of Waterville, Maine

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England

Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP)

Kennebec Behavioral Health

Legal Services for the Elderly

Maine Children’s Home

Rural Community Action Ministry

Learn More

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW UWKV AND ITS PARTNERS ARE INCREASING FINANCIAL STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY?

Learn More

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW UWKV AND ITS PARTNERS ARE INCREASING FINANCIAL STABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY?

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