Bold Goals – Financial Stability
FINANCIAL STABILITY
TOGETHER WE THRIVE
Financial stability in Southeast Iowa has declined significantly over the past five years. As we look to the future, our goal is not only to bring awareness to this issue but to actively equip our neighbors with the knowledge and resources they need to secure their homes and livelihoods.
By strengthening families and individuals, we help build a more resilient community—one where people can support each other in times of need. Through access to essential services, addressing the housing crisis, and more, we are committed to stabilizing homes and securing a brighter future for Southeast Iowa.
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Southeast Iowa’s economy is experience a mix of growth and decline across our five county coverage, highlighting financial instability and the need for economic resilience. The financial trend in our local area is:
- Total Real GDP of Southeast Iowa: $5.8 billion
- Average Real GDP per County: $1.16 billion
- Average GDP Change: -2.38% (declining overall)
- State Ranking (Average, excluding Louisa County*): 70 of 99
*While each of our counties struggle, Louisa County stands out with a 5.5% increase in GPD giving it the ranking of 6th in the state. However, this county’s ranking is an outlier due to a smaller but highly productive industrial sector, skewing regional averages.
Some of the key takeaways that we’ve uncovered:
- The region, excluding Louisa County, is experiencing an average GDP decline of -2.38%, indicating financial stress and a slowing local economy.
- Although Louisa County would otherwise skew the regional picture, without it the average ranking drops to around 70th place. Reinforcing that most counties in Southeast Iowa lag behind economically.
- With three of five counties facing economic contraction, promoting financial education, economic development, and resource accessibility is critical for improving financial resilience.
Source: “GDP by County, Metro, and Other Areas” [https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-county-metro-and-other-areas]
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.
“We had an individual with severe mental health diagnosis who also had a stroke and had to relearn all his skills from eating to walking. The individual was unsure if he would ever be able to find a job that would accommodate his disabilities. With the assistance and support of the IPS program, the individual was able to find a job that would accommodate his hours and within walking distance of his home. The individual is successfully employed and loves being able to go to work every day in a supportive work environment.”
— Hope Haven, Imagine the Possibilities
“For Problem Gambling, when community members call for help, they don’t have to worry about whether they can pay as we can be flexible due to UW funding. This goes a long way to helping people with gambling disorders, as finances are a big trigger and can be a barrier for treatment when the person is active in their addiction.”
— ADDS
“Dominick “fell off the wagon” after the death of his brother. He worked with other agencies to try and get back on track but still ended up being evicted from his apartment. Over the course of his stay at BAHS, Dominick saved and paid off multiple debts. His mom had a major health scare while he stayed with us, but with the positive support, Dominick was able to maintain his sobriety even through that stressful trigger. He got back into the good graces of his creditors, and even moved back into the same apartment he was previously evicted from! He has continued to maintain a relationship with BAHS and calls regularly with updates. His mom is doing well, he is staying ahead of his bills and he is still “on the wagon”.”
— Burlington Area Homeless Shelter
