Community-based Agenda

Increasing the Financial Stability of Individuals and Families

United Way is increasing the financial success of hardworking individuals and families by empowering them to build a better life through economic independence for themselves and their children.

The need to provide financial stability for individuals and families was identified in the 2003 Southern Nevada Community Assessment and reinforced in the 2007 update. Financial stability is the key to homeownership, access to healthcare and a means for parents to successfully address the physical, emotional, and educational needs of their children.

With more than 46 percent of household incomes below the basic family budget requirement of $46,512 annually for two adults and two children¹ and Clark County unemployment rates soaring to a record high of 10.4 percent in March of 2009², there are more people experiencing financial hardship today than in many generations before us.

United Way’s goal is to connect families and children to financial education and basic financial products to help increase income, build savings and manage debt.

United Way is teaching children to save and the importance of establishing and maintaining fiscal responsibility. The 2009 “Teach a Child to Save” day helped 6,700 children learn the basics of money management. In collaboration with the Nevada Bankers Association, United Way brought credit education to life with interactive lessons on account management, credit reports and identity theft.

During the 2008 tax season, through United Way’s leadership, the “Earn It Keep It Save It” collaborative returned more than $5 million in local tax refunds during the 2008-09 tax season. From January through April 2009, “Earn It Keep It Save It” provided complimentary tax preparation to 4,229 working individuals or families making under $42,000 per year, and the refunds resulting from this service went directly into the pockets of southern Nevadans.

Because of you . . .

The EITC is a refundable tax credit that reduces or eliminates taxes for married or single working people and it also serves as a work incentive and wage subsidy. This tax credit can increase an eligible family’s income by 10 to 15 percent and helps to lift more families out of poverty than any other government program.

“A tax refund of thousands can make a life-altering difference to families that make less than $42,000 a year,” said Steven Horsford, “Earn It Keep It Save It” volunteer chair and Nevada Senate Majority Leader. “We are thrilled to help hardworking, low-income families pay their bills, feed their children and stay in their homes or apartments.”

Working together with community-based organizations and non-traditional partners, United Way is helping children and families become financially stable and save for a brighter future.

¹United Way of Southern Nevada 2007 Community Needs Assessment
²University of Nevada, Las Vegas, CBER: “Clark County Economic Indicators,” Dr. Keith Schwer