by Sheila G. Kelley, development coordinator and Dalton Black, executive director
There’s something very profound about welcoming in a new year. Most people making new year’s resolutions want an opportunity to do all the things that you didn’t get done last year. But many people think resolutions are worthless, unmanageable, and soul crushing if they are not achieved. A few of the most “I’m going to do it!!” resolutions include losing weight, learning new skills, getting organized or becoming a better person.
We at Harvey County United Way recognize another resolution that is on most people’s lists – and can be one of the hardest to achieve – financial stability.
Let’s face it, the word budget scares the pants off many people all year round. We are constantly faced with managing how we will pay our rent, utilities, fees for our kids’ activities, medical bills, vehicle maintenance, and any number of other expenses. It can be a daunting task, even for someone who feels comfortable building a budget. However, the only way to learn to manage finances is through practice and some coaching. This could be a great time to start conquering your financial challenges.
Financial stability is described as “when income and expenses are in balance.” Stability allows you to live a comfortable life without worrying about money so much. But what happens when there’s a lack of one or both?
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. According to one report, 9.9 % of the 33,022 people living in Harvey County are determined to be living in poverty. Identifying and changing that deficit has led to financial stability being one of the three core initiatives of HCUW.
HCUW is helping families become financially stable and independent by supporting basic needs while improving financial education, providing childcare scholarships so families can stay at work, working toward homelessness prevention and providing disaster response services. You can see all of our initiatives on our website, harveyunitedway.org, and if you need assistance, you can call 211 to be connected with a trained support specialist, or call us directly at 316-283-7101.
Eliminating or reducing financial hardships isn’t easy, especially in today’s world. It involves making lifestyle changes, which is, in reality, what makes new year’s resolutions successful. If things get tough, rest assured United Way is here to help. We wish you the best of luck and a bountiful 2023!
The United Way 