Through this Targeted Care Area, United Way of Palm Beach County is promoting financial stability and independence.

The following is just some of Care Area's programs and partnerships that are having a measurable impact on residents in Palm Beach County.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites
United Way of Palm Beach County’s Prosperity Campaign began in the spring of 2004 with the opening of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. These sites provide free income tax-preparation services to those with an annual income of $49,000 or less a year and, helps those who are eligible for Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) apply for them. The sites are staffed by volunteers who are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Individual Development Account (IDA) Program
The IDA Program is a matched-savings program for homeownership or for a micro-enterprise small business. Eligible residents must save $2,000 dollars within six to 40 months. While saving, clients must participate in credit and money management classes offered through United Way's Prosperity Centers. For every dollar a participant puts in their IDA savings account, it is matched by another two dollars. When an IDA participant saves $2,000, it is matched 2:1 so the participant receives $4,000 in matching funds to be used towards the purchase of their new home or business.

The VITA and IDA Programs are key components of the Prosperity Campaign.

Read more about the Prosperity Campaign

Family Empowerment Coalition
The Family Empowerment Coalition (FEC) is comprised of 13 local agencies whose goal is to provide a seamless continuum of services that promote family stability and self-sufficiency. The FEC model allows clients to move easily from one agency to another, and/or access the entire range of services offered through three, community-based Family Empowerment Centers.

Family Empowerment Centers offer the following services to the community: quality child care; youth groups, after-school and out-of-school programs; comprehensive support services to prevent abuse, neglect, crisis, other social problems; and case management. These services empower clients to effectively navigate the educational, social and health systems within their communities. In 2006, a service added was the cooking and nutrition classes, offered by Happy Kitchen, a program offered by the Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance and funded by United Way.

Currently, United Way funds nine agencies that are members of the FEC.

SHARE Florida Food Network
The SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) Florida Food Network is a nonprofit food cooperative that helps households save up to 50% or more on their groceries, allowing households to stretch their food budgets and increase their access to nutritious foods.

SHARE is promoted by the Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance, an initiative of United Way of Palm Beach County, and alliance members.

Read more about the Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance Web page

This Targeted Care Area funds the following agencies:

Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches
AVDA Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse
The ARC of the Glades
Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
Exceptionalities
Families First
Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County
Gulfstream Goodwill Industries Housing Partnership
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
The Lord's Place
Noah
Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance
Palm Beach Habilitation Center
Pathways to Independence
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service of South Palm Beach County
YWCA of Palm Beach County
 

For more information on this Targeted Care Area and its projects, please contact United Way of Palm Beach County at (561) 375-6600.

If you are in need of services or assistance, please contact 211, an information and referral line funded by United Way of Palm Beach County. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 211 provides quick and easy access to the public to the more than 5,000 programs in Palm Beach County that provide services locally. The programs, projects, and services United Way supports are registered with 211.

Just dial 2-1-1, or (561) 383-1111, to get access to the many services offered in our community. You may also visit 211's Web site at www.211palmbeach.org