Bold Goals – Healthy Families
HEALTHY FAMILIES
TOGETHER WE THRIVE
We believe every family deserves a place to call home and access to nutritious food to stay healthy.
At United Way of Southeast Iowa, we’re committed to tackling the root causes of homelessness and hunger. Working alongside local experts, we focus on prevention—ensuring families and children don’t face these challenges in the first place. Our Executive Director also leads the Homelessness Taskforce in Burlington, IA, reinforcing our dedication to real, lasting solutions.
No one—child or adult—should have to endure the trauma of homelessness and hunger. That’s why we provide funding to shelters and food pantries, with a special focus on supporting families as they break the cycle of poverty for good.
IN OUR COMMUNITY
You may think that it’s not there, but it’s seen behind the curtains that our community hides very well. In Southeast Iowa:
- Of every 5 individuals there are 2 that live in poverty, or barely on the edge. ⁽¹⁾
- Each night, more than xxx of our community members experience homelessness. Roughly xxx of those are children; some left unreported, with the fear that they be taken from their parents.
- Every year, almost 14,000 Southeast Iowans will experience hunger; Of that, nearly 5,000 are children. ⁽²⁾
In 2023, Our Community Worked to Achieve:
- 9,369 families received food box deliveries, and/or were served warm meals each day.
- 386 individuals received 2,344 shelter nights, providing them the stability to break out of homelessness.
- 385 people were assisted with critical legal aid that prevented foreclosures, evictions, and more in our community.
- 350 domestic violence victims and their children found shelter and safety, with dedicated supporters logging 3,087 advocacy hours.
SPOTLIGHT
The following success stories are from our partnered agencies, highlighting how United Way Funding has impacted their programs. Each story has changed the client’s name for privacy reasons. No names displayed are of actual clients.
“Through the meal program this year, a single mother—who had just lost her husband—and her four children were able to find a place that they felt cared for, seen, and comfortable in. These kids received support from many adults in their lives because of the feeding program and have been empowered to try new things, succeed in school, try out for the school sports teams and plays, go to camp, and so on. Without the United Way supported meal program, it is likely that this family could fall through the cracks and these children would be without a support system. Because of the United Way supported feeding program, this family has felt support through one of their most difficult seasons in life.”
— Salvation Army of Burlington, IA
“A young mother arrived at the shelter after escaping an abusive relationship that had left her financially and emotionally drained. She had no family support, no stable housing, and no source of income. She feared for her safety and was unsure of how to start over. With the help of shelter advocates, she was able to secure safe housing and enroll in job training programs. She received counseling services to help her heal from the trauma of abuse. Within three months, she secured a full-time job and moved into her own apartment. She now has a steady income, a safe home, and the confidence to build a new future.”
— YMCA of Burlington, IA (Domestic Violence Shelter)
“Linda called Iowa Legal Aid after her landlord had entered her apartment when she wasn’t home and removed her items, giving them away to others. He changed the locks and then filed an eviction. Iowa Legal Aid represented Linda at the hearing, and the eviction was dismissed because Linda had not been served the required 3-day notice before the eviction was filed. Iowa Legal Aid is continuing to represent this client in a related money judgment case filed by the landlord, in which we filed a counterclaim for the landlord’s sexual harassment of the client. We also helped her sign up for the HUD Emergency Solutions Grants program so that she could afford to move.”
— Iowa Legal Aid
