Financial Stability

United Way Helps Americans Achieve Financial Stability

As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. Wages have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and education and currently, 40 million Americans are working in low-paying jobs without basic health and retirement benefits.  For families walking a financial tightrope, unable to save for college, a home, or retirement, United Way is here to help.

Our Goal

The United Way of Colquitt County promotes financial literacy and income security by supporting sustained investments in mutually aligned organizations, strategic partnerships, and through promoting education and training opportunities to promote individual and family-based economic welfare.

• Improve the financial literacy of Colquitt County’s underserved populations to enhance their quality of life. 

  • Host financial literacy and financial planning workshops targeted constituency groups.

  • Explore connectivity to financial literacy programs and education (FACS, CCHS, C.A. Gray, Boys and Girls Club, etc.)

• Improve the economic welfare of families and children in Colquitt County. 

  • Support food banks and clothing banks/drives for families.

  • Continue support of YES! – SWGACAC Youth Enrichment Summit Camp (YES!)

  • Bring back 3-day poverty workshops (Ruby Payne).

  • Purchase curriculum for Boys and Girls Club Money Matters Program (Grades 6th -12th).

  • Continue supporting the Colquitt County Emergency Relief Program through Southwest Georgia Community Action Council. 

Our Strategy

Over 300 United Ways and their local community partners are engaged in activities and initiatives to help build the financial stability of families in their communities. 

When Colquitt County Habitat for Humanity closed its doors in 2013, Habitat donated the home mortgages and cash assets to United Way of Colquitt County to manage and develop long-term plans for community funding. As of 2020, we continue to manage home mortgages for seven homeowners, helping each family to become financially stable and permanent homeowners. Our strategy is to continue this venture, as well as look to develop new plans once mortgages are completely paid off.  We are planning a Homeowners Workshop for these families and any potential homeowner in the community. Local community members will help to teach interested individuals the importance of homeownership as well as what it means to be financially independent. 

To address the obstacles that prevent hard working families from getting ahead financially, we launched the Financial Stability Partnership™, an initiative that promotes community-change strategies to help families meet their basic needs, while gaining the financial capability to plan for, and accomplish, their long-term financial goals. We strive to help individuals through an ongoing system we call “Emergency Relief”. This partnership includes Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Salvation Army, and United Way of Colquitt County. Through this partnership, we can assess any emergency needs due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances. We see many individuals that have a circumstance arise and cannot pay their utility bill, medication, rent, gas, etc… There is a lengthy and detailed application that each individual completes prior to any assistance. This helps to identify the real needs in the community. We are glad to be here as a relief to those that are working hard to make ends meet. 

For emergency assistance, contact Southwest Georgia Community Action Council at (229) 985-3610 and/or Salvation Army at (229) 314-4908.

Success Stories

In 2018, we celebrated with a Habitat for Humanity Homeowner with a Note Burning Celebration. Some of our board members and community members attended to congratulate the new homeowner! 

In 2019, United Way of Colquitt County assisted in gas assistance for 3 individuals that had a need for out of town travel for doctors appointments. One of those individuals is a cancer patience that seeks assistance with travel due to radiation treatment appointments. In 2021, we are hoping to celebrate with Colquitt Regional as they open their doors to a new Radiation Department, which will provide individuals with the option to received treaments locally. 

More data to come after 2019 reports are available. Stay tuned. 

How You Can Help

Volunteers make United Ways’ tax assistance and financial education programs possible. We need your help, even if you don’t have an accounting background. Volunteer to help.