United Way of Northern New Jersey 2013 Campaign Post Foods, November 11

Congratulations! It’s your first United Way campaign, so…. THANK YOU for being part of our work! Let’s work together to improve lives.

Post Foods…sharing goodness Thanks for sharing your goodness Together, with United Way, you can show you care about community…and are active in improving it Your contribution will make a difference!

United Way is a catalyst for change in our communities Our goal is to solve community problems Make strategic investments Inspire change Develop partnerships with key leaders and organizations

United Way improves lives We strengthen the community by focusing on: EDUCATION We help children and youth thrive INCOME We help people become financially stable HEALTH We improve the health of family caregivers

The focus of our work is understanding and improving conditions for those living in poverty and a group we call ALICE: Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed 1 in 4 New Jersey households can’t get by – despite working, they struggle to afford the basics of housing, food, child care, health care, transportation We give ALICE a fighting chance

ALICE Financial Hardship in New Jersey United Way of Northern New Jersey

What the research revealed… July 3,

A problem of unfathomable magnitude Daily Record, Star Ledger, One in three households struggle to survive

ALICE looks like you and me ALICE mirrors the New Jersey population in terms of race & ethnicity ALICE exists in all types households From 2007 – 2010 the number of ALICE and poverty – level households with children increased by 61 percent. July 3, Courier News,

ALICE exists in every community ALICE is not just in urban centers where there is a high concentration of poverty. Half of New Jersey’s 566 towns have over 30 percent of households earning less that what is needed to afford the basics. July 3,

Why does ALICE exist? July 3,

Source: Fair Market Rent, HUD; National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies; Thrifty USDA Food Plan; Consumer Expenditure Survey; Federal and NJ state income tax tables – all for 2007 and (wage = 40 hour week, 50 weeks/year) Incredibly high cost of living Household Survival Budget monthly costs – NJ average adults, 1 infant, 1 toddler Single adult Housing$ 1,217$ 923 Child care$ 1,319$ - Food$ 548$ 181 Transportation$ 463$ 302 Health care$ 397$ 99 Miscellaneous$ 443$ 192 Taxes $ 488$ 417 Monthly total $ 4,875$ 2,114 ANNUAL TOTAL$ 58,499$ 25,365 hourly wageTwo adults $29.25/hr (combined) $ 12.68/hr

ALICE is one emergency from crisis Costly car repair Can’t get to work Lose job Can’t pay rent/mortgage Homeless “The ability to borrow in an emergency does as much to reduce hardship as tripling family income” - McKernan, Ratcliffe, Shanks, 2011 McKernan, Ratcliffe, Shanks

These are jobs that are essential to our economy New Jersey, 2010Number of jobsAve hourly wage Retail Salespersons114,890$12.85 Cashiers101,790$9.65 Laborers, Stock, and Movers73,840$12.55 Janitors and Cleaners69,010$12.95 Food Preparation and Serving63,310$9.40 Waiters and Waitresses57,030$11.20 Customer Service Rep55,420$17.10 Nursing Aides, Orderlies51,070$12.85 Bookkeeping, Accounting Clerks47,870$18.85 Teacher Assistants44,050$12.14 Security Guards37,310$13.95 Packers and Packagers, Hand30,600$10.35 Home Health Aides29,550$10.95 Source: NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Wage Survey - All Industries Combined, 2010.

Why should we care about ALICE? July 3,

We are all interconnected ALICE households suffer without sufficient income. The whole community suffers when ALICE has insufficient income.

How are we helping ALICE? July 3,

Strategies to assist ALICE Short-term - help ALICE weather an crisis - food pantry, TANF, and childcare subsidies Medium-term - quality affordable childcare, safety network, car loans, house repair, energy assistance, health clinics Long-term - affordable housing, attract medium skilled jobs, public transportation, healthcare coverage

EDUCATION: Helping children reach their potential

United Way Success By 6 & ALICE Problem: Of the 80,000 children under five years olds in our region, approximately 5,000 poverty and 20,000 ALICE Goal: Help ALICE & poverty families access safe, affordable, and quality childcare July 3,

We give children a solid start United Way Success By 6 Playground Improvements Project Urgent need of nonprofit child care centers serving low-income and ALICE children Must upgrade playgrounds to comply with new federal regulations by October 18, 2014 Children need a place to play outdoors for their physical, social, and emotional development Costly for child care centers that serve low-income children at discounted tuition rate

Campaign and beyond Opportunities to get involved all year round Volunteer Opportunities United Way Mentor Center United Way Women’s Leadership Council United Way Young Professionals Insert picture(s) of local volunteers, staff, campaigns

Doris Thomas , x111

Thank You!