Economic Independence

Advancing financially stable individuals and families.

Nearly 66,000 individuals in our four county service area live below the poverty level and have difficulty meeting their basic needs. Over 23,000 working age adults are unemployed. Even those working multiple jobs may be unable to provide for their families. After basics, there is often no money left to save for buying a home, sending kids to college or retiring. Just one unanticipated expense – a car break-down, an uninsured illness, a week without a paycheck – can lead to crisis.

United Way’s Economic Independence goal is to move these families to financial stability and eventually to self-sufficiency. The programs we fund help them increase their earnings and build financial assets to better deal with unexpected expenses and support long-term goals.

Data Source: United States Census Bureau

2013 Economic Independence funded programs:

1. America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia: Community Kitchen
2. Coastal Center for Developmental Services: Community Employment Services
3. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Savannah Area: Financial Literacy – Counseling, Debt Management & Education
4. Eastside Concerned Citizens: Career Development and Asset Building
5. Economic Opportunity for Savannah-Chatham County Area: Payee Representative
6. Economic Opportunity for Savannah-Chatham County Area: Tom Austin House
7. Georgia Legal Services, Savannah Regional Office: Family Financial Stabilization Project
8. Georgia Legal Services, Savannah Regional Office: Home Ownership Protection Project
9. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire: ADVANCE/TBI (Second Chance)
10. Goodwill Industries of the Coastal Empire: Workforce Development Services
11. Greenbriar Children’s Center: Independent Living
12. JCVision and Associates: Financial Education and Counseling
13. Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire: Community Mediation
14. Neighborhood Improvement Association: Individual Development Account for Homeownership
15. Neighborhood Improvement Association: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
16. Rebuilding Together Savannah: Home Repair for Low Income Homeowners
17. Royce Learning Center: Adult and Community Education
18. Salvation Army Savannah Corps: Center of Hope Financial Assistance Program
19. Senior Citizens, Inc.: Senior Companion
20. Social Apostolate of Savannah: Birth Certificate Program
21. Union Mission: Employment and Training Center
22. Wesley Community Centers of Savannah: Wesley Women’s Center
23. YMCA of Coastal Georgia: Pryme Tyme