United Way for Greater Austin advances our mission — bringing our community together to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all — using four strategies. One of those is services and support.
United Way envisions a Central Texas where everyone has an opportunity to thrive. And 2024 marks an important milestone for us: 100 years serving the community! As we reflect on a century of change and a legacy of impact, our new strategic plan lays a strong foundation for our next 100 years.
Our new strategic plan galvanizes our promise to realize a future where every child is set up for success with high-quality early care and education – in a community where everyone is connected to the essential resources they need, when they need them. Through this plan, four key strategies emerged. One of them is services and support.
One example of our work in services and support is our Navigation Center, which paved the way for connecting local families and individuals to resources in our region. For more than 25 years, we have served as a 24/7 helpline that connects families and individuals right here in our community to more than 30,000 resources. Last year, we answered more than 200,000 requests for help – that’s one call every two minutes.
Our Navigation Center is just one example of our work in services and support. Programs like Family Connects and the Parenting Students Project provide health and education services to families in our region, and we support more than 50 organizations who provide essential resources.
In every service we provide, our community knows they will receive an answer. Through our 2-1-1 helpline, clients receive access to resources like housing, health care, income support and employment, utilities, food, and more.
Last year, one of our Navigation Specialists answered a call from Anthony.
Living in Greater Austin with his wife and two children, Anthony received an unexpected eviction notice in the mail one day. The shock and stress of the notification hit him: with an 18-month housing waitlist in his area, he didn’t know where he would be living in a few weeks.
He called 2-1-1 in United Way for Greater Austin’s Navigation Center, where he was connected to the help he needed. Within two weeks, Anthony applied for and was accepted into a new apartment and was able to move with his family. They never had to wonder where they’d sleep at night.
Through our work to provide essential programs and services to local families, our community receives equitable access to sufficient resources. Sometimes, that resource is a safe home.
With the help of our work in programs and services, we envision a next century characterized by innovation, inclusivity, and an even more profound community impact. We stand as a beacon, guiding the way toward a future where everyone in Greater Austin has the opportunity to reach their full potential.