Skip to main content

Author: Meg Costa

Skeptical of the Power of Your Vote? Read This.

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Election Day, Nov. 7, is fast approaching, and the team here at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is encouraging every eligible North Texan to cast their ballot.

As we work to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—we recognize that the only way to create meaningful, systemic change is to address problems from every angle. And voting is a particularly powerful step that we can all take to improve North Texas.

As Hillary Evans, vice president of policy and advocacy at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, underscored, “Every election counts. So, it is critical to cast your ballot, and make your voice heard to create lasting change. As the late American civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis said, ‘The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.’”

Despite the importance of voting, every election, far too many North Texans do not cast their ballots—and this has a profound impact on every facet of our democracy, from who sits on your school board to how much you pay in property taxes.

Your Vote Is an Investment in Our Community

Camila Correa Bourdeau, Executive Director of March to the Polls

To better understand how voting impacts our community at large—as well as United Way’s focus areas of education, income and health—we sat down for a Q&A with Camila Correa Bourdeau, executive director at March to the Polls, a Social Innovation Accelerator alumnus that works to increase the rates of voter turnout across North Texas.

Check out our conversation to learn more about the state of voter turnout in North Texas, the outsized importance of voting in every election and how voting can help improve our community—for everyone.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas: What is the mission of March to the Polls?

Bourdeau: Our mission at March to the Polls is to substantially increase electoral participation in underrepresented communities.

United Way: How do you work to increase voter turnout?

Bourdeau: We do this through three primary methods: in-class voter education and registration across eight major North Texas school districts in 70 high schools, on-campus civic engagement clubs led by students on 30 of our 70 partner campuses, and intentional community outreach in neighborhoods that have low propensity voter engagement. In these ways, we are creating a more representative democracy, which leads to better outcomes for communities.

United Way: Why focus on voter registration and engagement?

Bourdeau: In order to meet our mission, we must provide access to the ballot box. Access begins with registration. We like meeting communities where they are and one of those key places is in school communities, where we can make voter registration accessible to students, and by extension, their families and neighbors. Once we register eligible voters, we can then roll up our sleeves to engage the newly registered voters so they can confidently make it to a voting center. Through texting, emailing, door knocking and peer-to-peer student outreach, we share actionable resources so they can make their voices heard.

United Way: At United Way, our focus areas are education, income and health. What does voting have to do with these pillars?

Bourdeau: “Research and lived experience shows that when a city has strong civic health, inclusive of high voter participation, it has better outcomes in health, education and income. We see voting as the foundation for a community to thrive. Some of our Dallas neighborhoods have as low as 2% voter participation when electing leaders who make decisions about housing, health and education. We know that we can do better, and we are happy to serve as a bridge to any tools that can facilitate this process for our community.”

United Way: At a high level, how does North Texas do in terms of voter turnout?

Bourdeau: “At a high level, North Texas unfortunately ranks among the bottom of U.S. cities when it comes to voter participation. Some of this can be attributed to laws in Texas that are different from other states, making Texas rank last on a ‘lowest ease of voting’ index, and some of it can be attributed to local decisions about our election calendar where voters have to keep up with multiple election dates across the year compared to other communities. The good news is there is only one place to go from here: up! March to the Polls will work to make sure that North Texas is better represented through increased electoral participation among our neighbors.”

United Way: Many people only vote in presidential elections. Why is it important to vote in every election?

Bourdeau: “One of our mantras at March to the Polls is that the most important election is always the next election. So no matter if it’s a school board election, constitutional amendments election or presidential election, it is critical for all voices to be heard at each and every election. When comparing the choice between a president or a city mayor, we have to put in perspective that even though the media attention may differ, the local elected leaders are making decisions that we will see and feel on an everyday basis. Don’t like the pothole on your street? Local election. Want renovations for your community school? Local election.”

United Way: If you were speaking with someone who was doubtful about voting in the next election, what would you say to them?

Bourdeau: “I would tell them that they are an expert in what’s best for them and that no other voice can do them justice by voting on their behalf if they themselves choose not to vote. If they have doubts on whether their vote will make a difference, they can be assured in knowing that the Constitutional Amendments elections typically only bring 7% voter turnout, which means a handful of people will determine what’s best for 93% of our neighbors. And if someone doesn’t get the result they were hoping for after they vote, it doesn’t mean that their participation did not matter. It just means you can’t win them all. But the only chance at winning is by continuing to show up—otherwise, you are surrendering. March with us and don’t give up on yourself or your community—exercise your power to vote!”

Get Ready to Vote on Nov. 7

Visit our voting page to find everything you need to know about our upcoming election, including:

  • How to find out if you’re registered
  • What will be on your ballot this year
  • What documentation you need with you to vote
  • Local voting locations and how to vote by mail
  • Your rights as a Texas voter

Every Vote Counts, Even in Off-Year Elections

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Election Day is right around the corner, and even though this is an off-year election, it’s important that you make a plan to vote. Casting your ballot during every election is one of the easiest, most effective ways to directly impact education, income and health in our community.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we encourage you to spend a little time in the next few weeks familiarizing yourself with the races and candidates in your jurisdiction, as well as some of the key issues that are driving this election cycle.

Why vote this year?

Voting is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, duties we as citizens hold. It’s important for every citizen to be an informed voter. While many people only vote during presidential election cycles, every election directly impacts various factors of your life.

Frustrated by an increase in your property taxes? Want to help decide who is on the local school board? Be sure to cast your ballot—every election.

Your vote has the power to improve the quality of life in North Texas and drive positive changes that affect the education, income and health of our community.

Election Day Basics

First thing’s first, make sure you are registered to vote. You can verify your registration status on the Texas Secretary of State website. If you’re not registered, you can still register to vote before the deadline on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Visit VoteTexas.gov to register online or request a printed application.

This year’s General Election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 23 and ends Friday, Nov. 3.

During this year’s election, voters will decide on numerous local races, including school boards, municipal governments and local ballot measures. Many local jurisdictions may also have a bond election.

To see the races and issues on your ballot, visit Vote411.org and type in your home address.

Know Before You Go

Bring a photo ID: You must present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification before you can vote:

  • Texas driver’s license
  • Texas election ID certificate
  • Texas personal ID card
  • Texas handgun license
  • U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
  • U.S. military ID card with photo
  • U.S. passport (book or card)

Your voter registration card is not mandatory to vote, but it’s a good idea to bring it if you have it. If your name is spelled differently on the official voter list than on your ID, showing your registration card may resolve the issue.

Voting locations: Polling locations may be different for early voting and Election Day, so visit your county’s election website—Dallas, Collin, Rockwall or Denton—to make sure you’re headed to the right location.

Be an educated voter: Save yourself time at the polls by being prepared. Do your research on candidates and propositions, and determine how you want to vote before getting to the voting machine. You can bring notes or a sample ballot with you to vote, but you’re not allowed to have partisan flyers with you in the voting booth. Create your own personalized ballot by visiting Vote411.org.

Encourage your network: Make a plan to vote and invite your neighbors and friends to go vote with you.

Vote by mail: To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be 65 years old or older
  • Be disabled
  • Be out of the county on Election Day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance
  • Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible

You can request the application for a mail-in ballot from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. The deadline to submit a vote-by-mail application is Friday, Oct. 27. To learn how to request a vote-by-mail application and to submit your application, visit your county’s Elections Office website: Dallas, Collin, Rockwall or Denton.

Voter Rights in Texas

As a voter, it’s helpful to understand your rights so that you feel comfortable and confident in voting this year. Check out our Texas Voter Bill of Rights before you cast your ballot.

Meet Our Newest Social Innovation Accelerator Fellows

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas was founded nearly 100 years ago. Being around for almost a century means we have a rich history—and a bright future. Today, our work is more relevant than ever, and we continually innovate to ensure we are addressing North Texas’ current challenges and opportunities.

That’s why social innovation is part of every aspect of our impact work. We’re constantly looking for and implementing innovative solutions to systemic problems in our community so that we drive change in the most effective and efficient ways possible.

Embracing innovation allows us to stay nimble as we lead a movement to improve education, income and health in North Texas. It’s one of our strategies for driving progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include:

  • Increasing by 50% the number of local students reading on grade level by third grade
  • Increasing by 20% the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage
  • Increasing to 96% the number of individuals with access to affordable health insurance

Growing Our Impact Through Social Innovation

As we make progress on our Aspire United 2030 goals, part of our social innovation work involves partnering with nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that creatively address systemic challenges impacting North Texans in the areas of education, income and health.

Our longest-running social innovation program, the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture, is celebrating 10 years of impact this year. The program encourages innovative solutions to social issues by providing entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship and community connections to grow their ventures and amplify their impact.

Since its creation in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has created a significant impact across North Texas:

  • 74 local social entrepreneurs have completed the Accelerator
  • 345,564 clients served by Accelerator alumni
  • $7,071,449 invested in funding, training and professional mentoring
  • $61,437,564 in additional funding raised by Accelerator alumni
  • 1,962 partnerships formed with the support of United Way’s community connections and credibility

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows

As we continue to build on this success, we’re proud to announce the fellows selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture:

Abide Women’s Health Services

A Black-led nonprofit that offers culturally informed prenatal and postnatal care. Abide offers low-cost access to healthcare with the goal of reducing infant and maternal mortality among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) folk.

Delighted to Doula

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit offering anti-bias-based, judgment-free education and postpartum support to mothers in communities that traditionally receive the lowest quality of care. Delighted to Doula seeks to reduce maternal mortality rates and increase the number of mothers who have access to healthcare.

EntryWay

A national nonprofit that transitions individuals and families out of homelessness to economic self-sufficiency. EntryWay provides full-time employment, housing and career training opportunities in partnership with the real estate industry.

Healthy Hip Hop

A platform that seamlessly integrates hip-hop culture, literacy and social-emotional learning to elevate student learning environments.

Pasos for Oak Cliff

This organization’s Pasos All Stars Program is a four-week summer intervention program that works to close the learning gaps of rising ninth graders in literacy and math by combining academics with the fundamentals of sneaker design.

Preserve Owner Prosperity

An organization that works to stabilize and strengthen historically under-resourced neighborhoods, preserve and elevate their unique histories, and ensure that as revitalization advances, legacy homeowners can participate in the prosperous future of their communities

Reading Huddle

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

Seeks to increase the number of kindergarten-ready preschoolers who have achieved an age-appropriate level of literacy development through family-led, at-home story time sessions.

Somos Tejas Community Initiative

Addresses education through civic engagement and community development

Tech Savvy DFW

Creates access to STEM education in lower-income communities in Dallas-Fort Worth area. Tech Savvy DFW has a mission to ensure that students in minority communities have a chance to future proof their own lives.

Wholly Informed Sex Ed

Social Innovation Incubator Graduate

A nonprofit community outreach program that delivers life-saving comprehensive sexual health education based in the acclaimed Our Whole Lives curriculum to K-12 students in the Dallas area, serving in schools and community spaces.

What’s Next for the Fellows

The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows are already going through an intensive bootcamp, with expert instruction that will help them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. They are also receiving one-on-one mentoring and coaching from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors.

Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch, our annual social innovation competition, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding.

You’ll be seeing a lot more of these incredible organizations as they go through the Accelerator and compete for a spot at The Pitch. Stay tuned!

Girl and father putting coin into piggy bank, sitting on sofa at home

6 Ways to Improve Your Financial Stability

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Over the last three years, many North Texans have struggled to recover financially from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and several years of record inflation. This summer, gas prices have spiked and the cost of food has remained high. Meanwhile, our region has had months of record-setting heat, which means most North Texas families are seeing higher-than-average utility bills.

If you’re one of the many folks in our region who are trying to make ends meet, know that you’re not alone. And in many cases, there are systemic forces at play that prevent North Texans like you from accessing financial stability.

Consider these statistics:

  • Seventy-four percent of young adults in our community don’t earn a living wage.
  • In Dallas County, more than 40% of families are working hard but don’t earn enough to cover basic needs.
  • North Texans face some of the highest payday loan rates in the country, with typical annual percentage rates (APRs) running as high as 664%—more than 40 times the average credit card interest rate.

These and other obstacles keep many neighbors from achieving financial security, which can also impact educational opportunities and health.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’ve identified education, income and health as the building blocks of opportunity that enable all individuals and communities to thrive. That’s why we create, lead and invest in programs that enable North Texans to get and keep better jobs, build savings and hold on to more of what they earn. Our financial stability programs are designed to support individuals and families with free education, resources and guidance.

Here, we count down six steps you can take to improve your financial position:

1. Enroll in a program that will lead you to a higher-paying job.

Through initiatives like Pathways to Work, digital skills training and Women’s Workforce Initiative, United Way makes it easier for hard-working North Texans to earn the education and certification necessary to get a better-paying job.

Pathways to Work provides comprehensive training and employment for displaced and under-employed workers in healthcare, IT, construction, transportation, manufacturing, and business and finance. Last year, our Pathways to Work programs served 21,452 North Texans, leading to 1,656 certifications and 4,118 job placements. Click here to see a current list of available job training and certification programs.

“I wanted to upgrade myself and my computer skills, so this is a golden opportunity for me. My job outlook is going even better. I’ve been to some job fairs, and I’m expecting that phone call any day.” Kay, a Pathways to Work client who enrolled in a program to learn new skills and expand her job opportunities

Our free digital skills training programs offer adults and families an opportunity to learn the basics of Google Suite, financial literacy, job readiness, resume building and online safety. These classes enable you to learn with the support of a team and connect directly with employers upon graduation. Click here to sign up an upcoming class.

“The program has motivated me to be mobile. I want to get into forensics and work in laboratories. I am thinking bigger.” Skyylita, a 34-year-old who completed digital skills training through our partnership with CARDBoard Project and AT&T

Women’s Workforce Initiative is the workforce development component of Southern Dallas Thrives and includes the Women in Construction program. This initiative provides women in Southern Dallas with job training in high-growth industries, while also delivering support services and assisting graduates with industry certifications. As of last year, 67% of Women in Construction participants were employed in the fast-growing field. To learn more and sign up, click here.

2. #GetBanked.

If yours is one of the 7.1 million U.S. households that lacks a bank account, it can be difficult to build and maintain financial stability. By establishing a relationship with a bank that you trust, you can access important benefits that allow you to make progress on your finances:

  • You’ll know your money is safe and FDIC insured up to $250,000.
  • You’ll avoid check-cashing fees.
  • You can use ATMs to withdraw cash.
  • You can shop online and pay bills from anywhere.
  • You can keep an eye on how much money you have.
  • If you qualify for a tax refund, you’ll receive your money electronically, which is faster and more secure than waiting for a check from the IRS.

We’ve made it easy to find a bank account that offers low or no fees, no overdraft charges, no minimum deposits and other important benefits. Our Affordable Loans page has a list of trusted banks that offer affordable, easy-to-use checking and savings accounts. Or, visit the FDIC’s website at fdic.gov/GetBanked to learn more about the benefits of getting banked and to view a helpful checklist that will guide you to the best bank account for your individual needs. (All resources on this page are also in Spanish.)

3. Avoid predatory loans.

Every year, thousands of North Texans get trapped in a cycle of debt with predatory loans, and many borrowers end up owing a payday or auto loan business more than the original loan amount. That’s why it’s important to know about alternatives to predatory loans that allow you to borrow money through organizations that are affordable and fair.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we partner with several trusted organizations that offer low-cost loans, allowing borrowers like you to quickly access funds and build credit. For example, our partner Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers Predatory Conversion Loans that are designed to pay off payday and auto title lenders by allowing you to convert to a low-interest, one-year loan of up to $4,000 at 3% interest. Capital Good Fund offers another option, the Credit Builder Loan, that enables you to improve your credit score over 12 months.

For more information and to apply for a loan through one of our partner organizations, visit our Resources page.

4. Take advantage of free financial education and guidance.

Finances can be complicated, which is why it’s so empowering to learn more about things like personal finance, buying a home and saving for retirement.

To get a better understanding of key financial topics, consider signing up for a free financial education class; you might be surprised how helpful the information is for your own financial situation. These organizations offer a variety of free financial education classes and resources:

  • Building Wealth (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas): An overview of wealth-building strategies for consumers, as well as community leaders, students and teachers
  • First United Bank: Financial education materials and resources, including a “Get Out of Debt Coach” and an online budget calculator
  • Jump Start Coalition: Financial education resources for students and teachers
  • Money Smart (FDIC): Engaging games, podcasts and parent resources that help people of all ages enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships
  • Ready, Set, Bank.: (Hosted by Capital One) Video guides and step-by-step tutorials that make online banking easy. Also available in Spanish

Then, get free financial guidance from a qualified financial coach, who can help you set and meet your financial goals. To get started, contact one of our partner agencies:

  • Catholic Charities Dallas: Financial coaching and education, HUD counseling and more
  • Metrocrest Services: Teaches individuals how to pay off debt, increase savings, improve credit and achieve personal financial goals
  • The Senior Source: Financial assistance and education, help with frauds and scam, and more
  • WiNGS Dallas: Financial education, individualized financial coaching, credit-building, benefit screening and more.

5. If you have children, open a college savings account—today!

A little financial planning can go a long way toward your children’s future. College savings accounts are especially important: With at least $500 saved, your child is three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate. And that has a huge ripple effect throughout their life, putting them on a path to a good-paying job, career advancement and financial security.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our partners offer a simple way to save for your child to go to college through a my529 account with Dollars for College. Worried that you don’t have enough to put aside for savings? Even saving a relatively small amount each month for your child’s college fund can add up. For example, putting $100 a month in a 529 savings plan can grow to $43,323 in 18 years.

Click here to open a free account today. (If your child attends Lancaster or Richardson ISD, the district will make an opening deposit of $50 in your child’s account.)

“The Dollars for College program is helping my family prepare for the future. Saving for my son’s college was always something I knew I wanted to do but never made the time to start. This program took all the work out of it and made it easy for me. Plus, the program’s saving incentive savings match creates motivation to keep saving for my son’s future.” Ms. Gonzalez, a parent from Lancaster ISD, who opened a Dollars for College savings account for her son to increase the chances that he earns a higher degree

6. In the spring, get free assistance with your taxes.

For more than 10 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has provided North Texans with access to free income tax assistance so working families can receive all eligible tax credits and refunds. With the help of volunteer tax experts, the average filer gets a refund of almost $2,000 and saves an average of $200 in tax prep and filing fees. As a result, the IRS distributes millions of dollars in refunds back into our community every year.

Next year, as tax season begins, be sure to explore your options for free tax services. To get started, visit our Free Tax Prep resources page.

Take Control of Your Financial Future

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we want to ensure that every North Texan has access to the resources necessary to get and maintain a good-paying job, save money, reduce debt and plan for the future.

We understand that factors like how much you get paid, whether you’re able to save money and your level of debt can have a huge impact on your quality of life, your health, your family and more. Although financial topics can be daunting, community resources like these can put you and your family in a much better position for a lifetime of financial security.

new house neighborhood

Homelessness, Housing and Affordability in North Texas

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

This summer is on track to be among Texas’ most extreme seasons on record, with scorching temperatures throughout the day and little relief at night. The unrelenting heat has raised concerns among community organizations and housing advocates about unhoused individuals and families across North Texas.

Extreme heat can be dangerous for our unhoused neighbors, because they are often unable to escape the elements. In the North Texas summer, people experiencing homelessness are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness, which can damage vital organs and even result in death.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we understand that preventing homelessness and encouraging housing stability are foundational to our mission of improving access to education, income and health—because all North Texans need a safe, stable home environment in order to thrive in these three interconnected areas. We work in partnership with community organizations and our supporters to prevent homelessness, encourage the development of affordable housing and lift up our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

This summer, the dangerous weather conditions make it the perfect time to check in on the state of homelessness and housing in North Texas, with a look at key insights from two recent reports that dive into these interconnected issues. Read on to learn more about homelessness and housing accessibility in North Texas, how United Way improves housing stability and ways you can support our work in these areas.

The State of Homelessness in North Texas

Each year, nonprofit organizations, community organizers and volunteers come together for the Point-in-Time Homeless Count, an effort that is led by Housing Forward. Over the course of a single evening, participants take to the streets of Dallas and Collin counties to manually count every individual experiencing homelessness at that moment in time.

By regularly counting the unhoused neighbors in our community, Housing Forward (formerly Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance) collects vital data on a population that can be difficult to quantify. These insights allow us to understand the extent of homelessness in North Texas, factors that are impacting current homelessness rates and the effectiveness of programs that seek to end homelessness.

In 2023, the Point-in-Time Homeless Count, which was held Jan. 26, revealed several positive trends, including:

  • Year over year, there was a 4% decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness and a 14% decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
  • Compared to 2022, there was an 18% increase in people exiting to permanent housing, and 92% of that group remained housed after 12 months.
  • Chronic homelessness decreased 32% since 2022.

These numbers indicate that our community is making progress by implementing permanent solutions that prevent homelessness—such as housing stability programs and support of more affordable housing—while also serving people who are already experiencing homelessness.

Unfortunately, this year’s count also revealed some ongoing challenges:

  • Veteran homelessness increased 21% since last year.
  • Homelessness among youth and families also increased, by 18% and 15%, respectively.
  • Homelessness still affects Black North Texans more frequently. This year’s count found that while Black households make up 20% of the general population of Dallas and Collin counties, they account for 59.5% of the homeless population in those areas.

These numbers indicate that there is still plenty of work to be done to address the inequities that many North Texans—including individuals, families and people of color—face.

Housing Affordability and Accessibility

A lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest contributors to our region’s homelessness situation. And unfortunately, our supply of affordable housing is only getting more limited, according to a new report.

“The State of Dallas Housing: 5-Year Comparison Report”—which was prepared by buildingcommunityWORKSHOP and sponsored by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, The Dallas Foundation and The Meadows Foundation—focuses on the ways in which Dallas’ housing landscape has changed over the last five years.

The report found that multiple factors are making homeownership significantly challenging for North Texans with incomes at or near the median (around $58,000 a year). For example:

  • Dallas has 38,642 fewer homes valued at or around $100,000 when compared to 2016, which marks a significant decrease in the amount of housing stock available to homebuyers making $25,000 to $35,000 a year.
  • Dallas is losing housing stock that would typically be associated with “naturally occurring” affordable housing (homes that become more affordable as they get older). The majority of housing stock lost was built between 1940-1990, which commonly provides housing affordable to low- to moderate-income households.
  • Compared to 2016, Southern Dallas has 40,215 fewer homes valued at $150,000 or below. In 2021 only 12% of home sales in Southern Dallas were in the $150,000 or less price range.

Meanwhile, as the cost of buying a home puts ownership out of reach for many North Texans, rental prices reached an all-time high in 2021. Although average rents have started to stabilize over the last year or so, the average one-bedroom rental is still more than $1,350 and the average two-bedroom is more than $2,000—far beyond what many local families can afford.

When people don’t have access to affordable housing, they often struggle to balance rent, bills and other financial responsibilities. For many North Texans, it becomes impossible to keep up with a high rent or mortgage payment, which can lead to homelessness. That’s why at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our work includes improving housing stability and preventing evictions so we can keep people from entering the cycle of homelessness.

United Way Prevents Evictions and Supports Affordable Housing

Homelessness is a complex problem that requires multifaceted solutions and broad community involvement.

“Homelessness does not exist because of one, single factor—rather, it’s a series of forces that manifest as homelessness,” said Ashley Brundage, executive director of housing stability and senior vice president of community impact at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

In the 2022 State of Homelessness Address, Brundage explained that the systems in place to help prevent and end homelessness are just as complex. But they can essentially be broken down into four parts:

  1. Prevention programs that stabilize individuals to make sure they don’t fall into poverty
  2. Housing creation to actively expand affordable housing
  3. Rehousing services, where organizations engage with people experiencing homelessness, bring them into shelters and then rehouse them
  4. Street services to manage and care for individuals living on the streets

Many of our community partners, such as Housing Forward, excel at services such as rehousing and care for people who are already experiencing homelessness. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we work further “upstream,” with a focus on preventing homelessness by improving housing stability for North Texas families and advocating for affordable housing.

One successful prevention initiative is the Dallas Rental Assistance Collaborative (DRAC), which provides rental and utility assistance so people can stay in their homes. In the early days of COVID-19, as federal relief dollars began flowing to our region to prevent an eviction crisis, the City of Dallas chose us as a trusted partner to help lead DRAC and unite the community around the issue of housing stability.

Working with more than a dozen partner organizations, we served more than 7,000 households throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in March 2020, DRAC provided more than $30 million in rental and utility assistance, helping to prevent an eviction crisis in our communities.

In 2021, we also helped launch the Targeted Eviction Prevention Program (TEPP), which provides comprehensive case management to families on the verge of eviction to help stabilize their lives.

Meanwhile, we advocate continually for policy changes that will increase the supply of affordable housing in North Texas. During the most recent Texas legislative session, our team provided a unique perspective to the housing policy landscape based on our experience providing rental assistance. Through testimony and one-on-one meetings, we provided insight into the efficacy, administration and benefits of certain policies to help give legislators a well-rounded understanding of the obstacles facing tenants, and benefits and disadvantages of varying solutions.

You Can Improve Housing in North Texas

If you’re interested in working with us to improve housing stability in our community, here are three ways to get involved right now:

  • Give: Donate to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to support housing stability and eviction prevention initiatives.
  • Advocate: Call or email your representatives and tell them you support affordable housing throughout our community. (Click here to find your elected officials and their contact info.) And be sure to sign up for our Advocacy Alerts to receive information on our top policy priorities, such as affordable and equitable housing.
  • Volunteer: We frequently host volunteer events that support housing stability and homelessness prevention. Fill out our general volunteer interest form, and we’ll let you know about upcoming programs that fit your interests.

Education’s ‘Long COVID’ Continues as Student Test Scores Backslide

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools across the country to shut down, students lost months’ worth of learning. Over the past three years, parents, teachers and community organizations have united to ensure kids get back on track as quickly as possible, working overtime with students and launching new initiatives to close the learning loss gap.

Unfortunately, new research indicates that students across the country are still struggling to get back to pre-pandemic learning levels.

According to NWEA, a research organization that deploys student assessment tests across the U.S., achievement gains during the 2022-23 school year fell short of pre-pandemic trends in nearly all grades. The research indicates that learning loss created by the pandemic still has not been resolved; in fact, learning gaps may still be widening for many students.

This is a critical situation that impacts our entire community—and requires a community-wide response. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, supporting local students is one of our top priorities as we work to improve access to education, income and health. As kids and their families strive to catch up from COVID-era learning loss, we unite the North Texas community to ensure students have what they need to succeed.

Read on to learn more about the most recent learning loss research, how United Way supports students and teachers in North Texas, and how you can be part of our movement to create opportunity in education.

Students Are Struggling in Reading and Math

This spring, NWEA assessed the reading and math skills of about 3.5 million public school students in third through eighth grade. Students in nearly every grade showed slower-than-average growth in reading and math skills, when compared with pre-pandemic learning growth.

Most students are so far behind that they need the equivalent of an extra four months of instruction in reading and 4.5 months in math to catch up to the typical pre-pandemic student.

Older students are generally the furthest behind, with sixth graders’ reading achievement sliding 19% compared to the years before COVID-19 and fifth graders’ math skills falling by 15%.

Black and Hispanic students fared worse than other ethnicities and would require another month or more of supplemental learning to catch up. “This implies that marginalized students, who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, did not experience any additional catch-up, despite being the intended primary focus of academic recovery efforts,” the researchers wrote. “All students face a lengthy road to recovery, and our estimates indicate that road will be longer still for historically marginalized students.”

The Enduring Legacy of COVID

These statistics reflect the severity and disruption of the COVID-19 crisis. It’s not surprising that, three years later, students are still feeling the effects.

As Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explains, “This has been an incredibly disruptive couple of years, with the pandemic and so many other things that have affected all of our lives, but most particularly the lives of students. With the disruption in learning—our brains can only do so much when we’re stressed.”

Teachers, parents and community organizations have done a commendable job supporting children through the height of the pandemic, and an influx of federal funding helped to prevent even greater learning loss. However, NWEA’s research indicates that this work isn’t over and that local students need our entire community’s support now more than ever.

Education Takes a Village

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’ve led a community-wide movement to improve access to education—as well as income and health—for nearly 100 years. We recognize that education is one of the building blocks of opportunity, affecting everything from how much a student will go on to earn in their career to the quality of health insurance their family will one day enjoy.

When COVID-19 hit North Texas, we quickly saw the importance of supporting students throughout the pandemic and beyond. We ramped up existing programs that promote early literacy and launched new initiatives aimed at reengaging students with school. Through this and other work, we gave the entire North Texas community an opportunity to lift up students who were at risk of falling behind.

Examples of these efforts include:

School supply drives

As back-to-school time approaches, each year we host a series of Stock the School drives, giving the North Texas community an opportunity to show their support for local students and teachers and make sure they have everything they need for a successful school year. Each year, we work with hundreds of donors and volunteers to provide thousands of school supplies to local educators and students.

This type of community support is especially important this year, as inflation has increased the price of nearly everything and the average family now spends $660 on school supplies. These drives also prevent educators from having to use their own funds to teach in an effective, engaging way.

Early literacy programs

Initiatives like Once Upon a Month encourage young North Texans to fall in love with reading, which supports kindergarten readiness and ongoing success in school. A partnership with Ferst Readers and The Boone Family Foundation, Once Upon a Month provides children ages 0-5 with one free children’s book every month for a year, along with parent guides in both English and Spanish. The resulting interactions stimulate curiosity, language development and the learning skills needed for kids to succeed in both school and life. In our last fiscal year alone, nearly 9,400 North Texas children enrolled in the program and more than 108,000 books were mailed out.

STEAM programs

Throughout the year, we organize initiatives that promote learning in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). One example is Heal Play Learn, which is designed to encourage students’ social and emotional wellness, physical activity and engagement with STEAM. Following 2021, the first year of Heal Play Learn programming, participating students showed improved retention rates in DeSoto schools, as well as significantly higher projected STAAR test scores.

These and other United Way programs actively combat COVID-19 learning loss by ensuring students and teachers have the resources necessary to thrive, re-engaging kids with learning, sparking an interest in subjects like reading and math, and setting students up for success at every age.

Together, We Can Ensure Local Students Thrive

Interested in being part of the change? This summer we invite you to invest in local students by supporting programs like Stock the School to ensure every child has what they need to thrive.

Here are three donation options that enable change-seekers like you to make a meaningful impact right here in North Texas:

  • Make a one-time donation: With a gift of any amount, you can make a holistic investment in our community and create opportunity and access for your fellow North Texans. Simply visit our donation page, click the “one time” tab and select your gift amount.
  • Set up a recurring donation: Become a monthly donor and create lasting change on an ongoing basis. Your investment will be there for North Texans continually over time, providing reliable financial support for our programs and partnerships that improve education, income and health for our neighbors. To get started, visit our donation page, select the “monthly” tab and choose your donation amount.
  • Join a United Way Giving Society: These inspiring and impactful groups are a great way to invest in North Texas while connecting with fellow change-seekers and engaging directly with the community impact work that is transforming our community for the better. Learn more about our Giving Societies.
healthcare workers

Hundreds of Thousands of Texans May Lose Health Coverage This Year

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

This year, as many as 700,000 Texans—most of them children—are at risk of losing their health coverage because of a federal change to Medicaid coverage requirements. Many Medicaid recipients aren’t aware of the change and likely won’t realize they have been removed from coverage until they seek out medical care.

Meanwhile, there are additional changes to Medicaid on the horizon that could strip almost $9 billion out of the system and leave hundreds of thousands more Texans uninsured.

Texas’ Medicaid population is around 5.6 million individuals—about twice the population of Arkansas. A large percentage of our state’s Medicaid recipients live in North Texas, and these changes could have an immediate impact on their health and financial stability.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, improving health care access is one of the key ways we create access and opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. One of our Aspire United 2030 goals—our North Star for driving transformational change in education, income and health over the next 10 years—is to increase to 96% the number of North Texas families with access to affordable health care

With the support of change-seekers like you, we’ve made significant progress toward this goal, thanks to programs like Healthcare Navigators and our advocacy efforts. However, this year’s Medicaid changes present a significant challenge for our low-income neighbors and for our community as a whole.

Keep reading to learn more about these important changes to Medicaid, how United Way is increasing health care access and coverage, and how you can get involved.

Tens of Thousands of Texans May Lose Medicaid Coverage

Medicaid recipients in Texas face two unique challenges this year.

First, the federal government has ended a rule called the continuous Medicaid coverage requirement, which means that all Medicaid recipients must have their eligibility redetermined. The rule originally came about in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Congress sought passed legislation enabling recipients to be automatically re-enrolled every year.

The continuous Medicaid coverage requirement officially ended March 31. Since early in 2023, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has been sending notices to recipients alerting them to the change in federal requirements and asking them to look for renewal packets or requests for information in the mail.

However, an estimated 700,000 Texans have moved since 2020 or can’t be found, according to The Dallas Morning News, and those recipients risk losing their coverage altogether. This mass loss of coverage could impact Texas children particularly hard, since a majority of kids in our state are insured through Medicaid.

As Joan Alker, founder of Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, told The Dallas Morning News, “There may be hundreds of thousands of children becoming uninsured in Texas if the process doesn’t go well. Any gap in coverage is a problem for families who could face crushing medical debt if they have to take a child with a broken arm or in need of stitches to the ER.”

The second challenge to our state’s Medicaid system comes from a potential change to the program that could reduce funding by almost $9 billion and leave hundreds of thousands more Texans uninsured. The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicated in February that it was seeking to end payment agreements between Texas and its hospitals, which would mean hospitals couldn’t care for as many low-income patients as they have in years past.

What These Changes Could Mean for North Texans

With 5.6 million Medicaid recipients residing in Texas, it’s clear that this program is extremely important to our state. It would be catastrophic if hundreds of thousands of our fellow Texans were to suddenly lose their health coverage, and that loss of coverage would impact every area of their lives.

Health coverage is vital for maintaining good health. Studies have shown that coverage has three important benefits:

  • It supports positive health outcomes, including an individual’s sense of their own health and wellbeing.
  • It incentivizes appropriate use of health care resources.
  • It reduces financial strain on individuals, families and communities.

Without health coverage, it’s likely that a person’s health would be affected. They would have to pay more for care, so their financial stability would suffer. And the countless children who would lose coverage could feel the effects at school if they get sick or injured.

How United Way Expands Health Access

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’ve identified education, income and health as the building blocks of opportunity—the three interdependent and interconnected pillars that enable all individuals to thrive. We believe that good health creates is foundational, affecting everything from how well a child can learn to how much an adult will earn.

To move closer to our goal of near-universal health coverage, we lead and invest in programs that improve health access for all North Texans.

One of our most successful health programs directly enrolls North Texans in affordable health insurance. We lead the North Texas Consortium, a network of community organizations dedicated to increasing health insurance coverage. Through this program, our Healthcare Navigators assist uninsured North Texans as they compare and enroll in health plans through the Marketplace, Medicaid or CHIP. Navigators also work to get clients signed up for all eligible subsidies, which saves many North Texans hundreds of dollars a month.

Daniel Bouton, senior director of family and community health at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, says many North Texans don’t enroll in health insurance because they think they can’t afford it. Most Healthcare Navigator clients are surprised by how affordable many of the health plans are.

“About 80% of our clients talk about not being able to afford a premium,” Bouton said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “I enrolled one woman whose premium was $3 a month. She had a zero co-pay to see a primary care physician and a $10 co-pay to see a specialist. We had people who didn’t believe it.”

The Healthcare Navigators initiative is having a measurable impact on health coverage in our community. From September 2022 to May 2023, Navigators assisted nearly 5,000 North Texans as they enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid, and an additional 1,100 individuals who enrolled in a qualified health plan. Those impact numbers contributed to the fact that Texas led all states in newly insured people during 2022-2023 open enrollment.

Advocating for Improved Health Policies

During the recent legislative session, our team worked closely with hundreds of dedicated change-seekers to speak up and speak out for meaningful change in our focus areas of education, income and health. Over the 140 days of the session, advocates stood up for our community, educated lawmakers and called attention to policies that will have a real impact in the lives of our fellow North Texans.

We joined with hundreds of partners throughout the state to call on lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage to 12 months after childbirth. Health care advocates have been pushing this for multiple years, and this session, the bill finally passed.

Previously, postpartum Medicaid only extended two months after childbirth, which has contributed to Texas’ dire maternal mortality rates. One in four Texas women of childbearing age have no access to health insurance outside of pregnancy, according to The Texas Tribune, which makes postpartum health coverage a life-or-death situation for many. By extending Medicaid coverage to a full year postpartum, the new law will better protect new parents at a critical time when health insurance is extremely beneficial.

How You Can Expand Health Access in North Texas

Access to health care is foundational for every individual and family in our region. Join us as we work to ensure more of our North Texas neighbors have access to the health resources necessary to thrive.

Here are two ways you can be part of the change right now:

  • Make a donation to support United Way health-related programs, our community impact partners and our advocacy efforts that focus on expanding access to healthcare.
  • Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts. Health care is always a hot topic in the Texas legislature. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts, and we’ll be in touch when our Live United network is contacting lawmakers about a particular topic.
group of kids having a picnic with their lunches

This Summer, North Texas Children Face a Variety of Challenges, Including Food Insecurity

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Home to leading businesses, a steady stream of new residents and seemingly endless prosperity, North Texas was just named the fastest growing region in the U.S. But it’s also home to staggering inequality.

Nearly 700,000 North Texans are food insecure—meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, according to North Texas Food Bank. This translates to one in eight people, including one in five children, going hungry at least part of the time.

Food insecurity and childhood hunger in particular are significant issues that prevent individuals and families from truly thriving. After all, a child who is distracted by hunger is less likely to succeed in school, workers without reliable access to food can’t be at their best and anyone who frequently experiences food insecurity is more likely to see their physical and even mental health suffer.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our focus areas—education, income and health—are inextricably linked to food security. That’s why we address the root causes of hunger and advocate for improved food accessibility as we drive progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals.

The summer months are a particularly important time for preventing childhood hunger, because it’s when many North Texas children miss out on federally funded school nutrition programs. But together, we can take key steps to improve access to quality nutrition. Read on to learn more about food security challenges during the summer, how United Way prevents childhood hunger and how you can be part of this life-changing work.

Summer Is ‘The Hungriest Season’

In some local school districts, 90% of children rely on federal nutrition programs during the school year. When the school year ends, tens of thousands of North Texas students lose access to regular nutritious meals.

For many families, the added expense of one to two meals every day for each child is difficult to absorb. And in recent years, the situation has only been made worse by the cost of food itself. The price of food increased about 11% from 2021 to 2022, due to inflation and supply chain disruptions, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. And while food prices have started to stabilize over the last few months, local families are still struggling to afford necessities.

Fighting Childhood Hunger

With our focus on improving access to education, income and health, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas makes it a priority to address hunger in our community. We lead and invest in innovative programs that support communities and families and address systemic challenges like food insecurity. A large part of that work involves partnering with dozens of local school districts, nonprofits and other organizations to provide nutritious food to hard-working families throughout the summer.

The North Texas Summer & Supper Council (NTXSSC) is our longest-running and most impactful hunger advocacy program. In 2013, United Way teamed up with Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty to launch NTXSSC, which supports summer meals programs as they provide millions of meals and supplemental programming to local children when school is out. These programs are run by local school districts, such as Dallas and Garland ISDs, and nonprofits like CitySquare and Equal Heart.

Over the last three years, the pandemic and rising food costs have pushed the demand for summer meals to unprecedented levels. Prior to COVID-19, in a typical summer, NTXSSC would work with more than two dozen groups that serve more than 2 million meals to 55,000+ children. Since 2020, demand has continued to rise, and NTXSSC and our partners have stepped up even more. In 2022, our meal provider partners served a record 56 million meals to North Texas children within Dallas and Collin counties alone.

Across 86 program sites, these organizations also provided fun and engaging programming that keeps kids excited about summer meals programs and takes a little pressure off of caregivers each day. With activities such as crafts, games, bounce houses and water balloon fights, children get to have a little summer fun without the stress and uncertainty that comes with food insecurity.

Nutrition Programs Are Just One Piece of the Puzzle

While improving access to nutritious food is paramount, supporting North Texas children this summer goes well beyond summer meals programs.

When we come together, we can ensure that all children get the support they need in every area of life. This includes keeping them well-fed, providing families with fun educational resources to keep kids’ minds engaged and setting them up for success after they finish school.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we create and invest in a variety of programs that support children’s educational attainment, overall health and even their future work prospects. In addition to our work supporting summer meals programs, here are just a few of our programs and partnerships that ensure kids can thrive:

  • Dollars for College, a partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas that seeds college savings accounts for low-income students, putting them on a path to attend and graduate college. Children with at least some college savings are three times more likely to attend college and four times more likely to graduate. In our last fiscal year, parents opened 229 new savings accounts through Dollars for College and, with community support, made $191,500 in deposits—more than double the previous year.
  • Once Upon a Month™, which delivers free age-appropriate children’s books to families every month, encouraging early literacy by stimulating curiosity, language development and learning skills. In our last fiscal year, 9,397 children received books from Once Upon a Month and 94% of parents read more to their children thanks to the program. And thanks to support from The Boone Family Foundation, we’re moving closer to our goal of distributing 1 million books by 2027.

Together, We Can Support Children Throughout the Summer

When school lets out for the summer, many families struggle to keep their children well fed and engaged.

With local families struggling to make ends meet, it’s more important than ever that we come together as a community to support kids. This year, we invite every North Texan to invest in the education, financial security and health of local children by donating to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

A gift of any amount makes a meaningful impact in our community:

  • $25 can support the North Texas Summer & Supper Council, enabling summer meal sponsors to increase their impact and feed more students.
  • $36 could provide a child with 12 books a year through Once Upon a Month, preparing them for school and early reading. Students who read on grade level by third grade are five times more likely to graduate ready for success in college or career
  • $45 can ensure every student goes back to school with the supplies they need to succeed, including school uniforms.
  • $50 could seed a child’s college savings account through Dollars for College, which can grow to nearly $500 by high school graduation.

Together, we can ensure every child has the access and opportunity to thrive this summer and throughout the year.