NOTICE: United Way staff are working remotely and are committed to serving our community during this unprecedented time. Click here if you are looking for help. THANK YOU!
Local organizations are swiftly pivoting their programming to virtual formats and serving our community in new ways. The Champaign County COVID-19 Relief Fund awarded four grants to increase access to technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the pivotal role technology plays in the community’s daily life.
For some families in Champaign County, the recent COVID-19 outbreak has made it even harder to take care of basic needs. Before the outbreak reached our community, 24% percent to families lived paycheck to paycheck while hovering just above the poverty line, according to a report from United Way’s ALICE Project. When you add in families living in poverty, 44% of families struggle.
The coronavirus continues to impact our Champaign County community. Our hearts are with those who have lost their jobs or seen a reduction in hours due to COVID-19.
The State of Illinois and our Champaign County municipalities are responding to the economic hardships related to COVID-19 closures. We anticipate a federal announcement of relief as well.
The situation is constantly evolving, and new resources are being announced daily. Here are some resources available to you now.
ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget.
For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs - housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and necessary technology.
No one loves filing taxes, right?
But this year, it’s easier than ever for simple returns if you use MyFreeTaxes.com.
MyFreeTaxes® is a long-standing partnership of United Way and H&R Block, which provides the software. Anyone of any income level can file simple returns for free. That means simple federal and up to three state tax returns – without spending any money in tax preparation fees.
The 2020 federal tax filing season opened Monday, January 27. Don't pay to file your taxes if you don't need to! Nearly 70% of taxpayers qualify to file their taxes for free. Here are a few free tax filing options for Champaign County residents. The deadline to file your taxes is April 15, 2020.
C-U at Home and Austin’s Place are pleased to announce they intend to combine their services. Both organizations currently offer overnight winter shelter for people experiencing homelessness – C-U at Home serves men, and Austin’s Place serves women. The expanded shelter, which will operate out of C-U at Home’s facility at 70 E. Washington St in Champaign, will provide overnight shelter year-round beginning November 1, 2020.
United Way empowers people to get on stable financial ground with proven methods like job training, financial wellness classes and more. The result is a thriving community where everyone has more opportunity to succeed.
United Way’s Community Impact Fund provides grants to 10 programs helping people earn more and save more.
May 31, 2013
Each year United Way of Champaign County hosts a Poverty Simulation for the members of our Emerging Community Leaders (ECL) class. Comprised of young professionals, this group has joined ECL seeking to learn about the local community and to volunteer their time.
