UWSD 5-Year Report: Community Impact Works

United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) has invested $14 million dollars and achieved substantial community improvements since 2006.
 
Sept. 26, 2012 - PRLog -- SAN DIEGO (September 24, 2012) – Since 2006, when United Way of San Diego County (UWSD) switched to its new “Community Impact” business model to address Education, Income and Health needs, it has invested $14 million dollars and achieved substantial community improvements, which included helping more than 150,000 people become more self-sufficient through financial literacy classes, benefits screening and job-skills training.

“United Way of San Diego County is leading the national United Way network in mobilizing the caring power of people to improve lives. At United Way Worldwide, we’ve watched San Diego become a powerful agent for social change,” said Stacey Stewart, executive vice president. “They’ve changed the way they do business – boosting collaboration and innovation to help make San Diego County a place where all children and adults can thrive.”

For the past five years, UWSD has accelerated the effects of Community Impact by making larger commitments over multiple years to make change happen in our community. For example, Project 25 is a three-year pilot project to permanently house the most frequent users of public resources that are chronically homeless. It has already reduced costs to taxpayers by 70 percent. United Way identifies specific issues and their root causes; the proven, measurable strategies to solve them; and the best partners for implementing these strategies.

“By collaborating with other nonprofits, government and community leaders throughout San Diego County, we tackle the issues that most influence people’s lives from birth to adulthood, affecting their children, their families and the greater community,” said UWSD President and CEO Doug Sawyer. “We’re thrilled to see our work captured in a five-year picture, showing the scope and impact we have made over time.”

Key results include:

SafeCare®

“I didn’t have a stable home. I didn’t know what a stable home was. Where I grew up, there was a lot of hitting … [SafeCare] taught me a lot about what not to do … It helps me be more understanding and patient … Because it’s not about me; it’s about my baby.” – Sofia, SafeCare

SafeCare is an evidence-based initiative that helps reduce child abuse and neglect. Its holistic approach includes collaborating with Child Welfare Services, the County of San Diego and health partners to provide adult training, intervention and prevention.

Nearly 2,000 children and 1,200 families countywide benefited
Lowered the rate of confirmed child abuse cases in San Diego County from 12.8 percent in 2008 to 8.3 percent in 2010 (a 35 percent decrease)
Investment: $2 million

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

“We were given an opportunity to …  make [buying a house] happen. I am so thankful for the [financial education programs] because that is a domino effect for the rest of my life and for my children.” – Crystal Lucca, Community Housing Works

The EITC Coalition is led by UWSD in partnership with the County of San Diego and the IRS. Free tax preparation is offered to low- to moderate-income families and individuals at sites countywide (some sites also provide free benefits screening, such as CalFresh, MediCal and SDGE bill assistance). EITC is only one among the many efforts that UWSD has invested in to help San Diegans of all ages toward financial self-sufficiency.

Nearly 109,000 free tax returns prepared since 2005
$44 million in refunds brought back into the San Diego economy (an additional $10 million in refunds were distributed this year)
Investment: $263,500

Project 25

“I cried. I can't even remember the last time I had  key to my own place. And when I walked in and looked at it, it was like, this is mine, this is my home; I'm not in a bush; I'm not under a park bench somewhere." – James Marsh, Project 25

Project 25 is a vital and historic partnership with the County of San Diego and City of San Diego/San Diego Housing Commission, providing permanent housing and supportive services to at least 25 homeless individuals who are the most frequent users of public resources, such as emergency rooms and ambulance rides.

35 chronically homeless individuals moved off the streets and into permanent housing with support services in the three-year pilot program’s first year
Saved taxpay­ers millions of dollars in public resources from $11 million in 2010 to $3.4 million in 2011 (70 percent cost reduction)
Investment: $1.5 million over a three-year pilot period

The extent and success of UWSD’s work is compiled in its “Five-Year Community Impact Progress Report.” To view the full report, visit www.uwsd.org.

About United Way of San Diego County

United Way of San Diego County is a nonprofit organization that for over 90 years has improved lives by mobilizing the community and raising funds to solve Education, Income and Health issues. The United Way movement creates long lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of problems that prevent progress in these areas. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. To learn more about the United Way, visit
http://www.uwsd.org, Facebook and Twitter.
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