United Way to Shift Funding With New Focus on Poverty

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By ELISE BUIK

While change can create discomfort or frustration, these are the oft-necessary side effects to the most important byproduct of change: evolution. As part of an important evolution in the way it addresses the needs of our community, United Way of Greater Los Angeles is undertaking a transformation in the way it creates pathways out of poverty for Los Angeles residents by shifting the support we provide to all area non-profits and focusing on measurable short- and long-term goals to make a real impact on the issues we are up against.


We fully expect some organizations to applaud our efforts and some organizations to question this shift. We also expect that, over time, this new direction will repay all organizations and individuals back in spades. We must remember that to make a real difference we need to treat the cause not just the symptoms. To do this, we need lasting results instead of quick fixes.


The face of poverty in Los Angeles has significantly changed over the past 20 years with half of families now living below the poverty line creating a need to adapt our strategy to make a real difference in the lives of all Angelenos. Many of our fellow citizens must decide between going without food, shelter or education. These are not luxuries, these are rights to which every man, woman and child is entitled. To alter the lives of those struggling around us, a change was imperative.


In addition to a focused, goal-oriented approach, our new 10-year action plan is a strategic effort that will affect the way we fund all area non-profits. By holding ourselves and the community accountable, we strongly believe this is the best route to providing Angelenos with the tools necessary to meet their basic needs, further education and provide financial stability. United Way’s goals include increasing graduation rates of ninth graders to 75 percent; increasing health care access for all children in L.A. County; facilitating greater access to income supports such as the Earned Income Tax Credit; and linking job training and the job market to match people with quality opportunities in high-growth industries.


Consider these sobering statistics:


-88,000 people sleep on the streets of Los Angeles every night two in five are women or children


-One in four children in Los Angeles lives below the poverty line


-Only six out of 10 high school students are graduating on time


-More than one in four people live in working poor families


Poverty does not just affect those in need it affects all of us. It causes a strain on public resources and creates a dearth of qualified, educated people for the workforce. United Way’s vision is to improve the quality of life for all in greater Los Angeles by creating pathways out of poverty for those in need. The factors are interrelated.


-Increased accessibility to social care = Increased sustainability


-Fostering youth’s career aspirations + training existing workers = Expanded Skilled Workforce


-Increased disposable income = Increased purchasing power + an expanded workforce = Business Growth



Simple goal

Our goal is simple: sharpen the focus on three vital areas basic needs, education and financial stability. The action plan puts goals against these areas to help create real results and ultimate prosperity for individuals, families and businesses in Los Angeles County. Without effectively supporting individuals and families in poverty, we are doing a disservice to everyone around us both from a social and an economic perspective.


The intersection of these social and economic trends has created a society of the haves and have-nots in Los Angeles, irrefutably affecting our economy and way of life. While we have incredible assets in our young population, it is undereducated and stuck in low-wage jobs. Good education means good jobs, a healthy economy and a safe and stable community. Focusing on these priorities is the most effective way in the short- and long-term to empower people to reach economic self-sufficiency and sustainability.


Aligning our funding to community and program results will help us meet and exceed our goals, providing a better quality of life for our fellow Angelenos in need. Agencies that can demonstrate their effectiveness in dealing with core issues and achieving measurable results in the three vital areas will receive funding. As always, we will continue to designate dollars according to donors’ wishes with the highest quality of service. This is about opening our doors to become a more transparent organization for our partners and strategically mapping all funding to providing basic needs, education and financial stability.


At United Way, we must be an agent of change in an ever-changing environment. We are in a unique position to bring together public, private and non-profit organizations in order to move more individuals and families from living below the poverty line. Again, achieving a better quality of life provides for a higher performing education system, a stronger workforce, a healthy economy and a safe and stable community for all Angelenos. With a united front, we can make this happen, but action needs to start now.



Elise Buik is president and chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

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