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Good to have safety net, but more can be done to give a hand up

Have you ever tried to climb a slippery, mud-covered hillside?

Sometimes it can be nearly impossible without special shoes, poles or a helping hand to pull you up. This difficult situation seems similar to the many stories about people trapped in poverty in our community. There are numerous reasons that people face hard times, from bad luck to bad choices. My empathetic husband frequently reminds me of the saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go all of us.”

Thankfully, this community has a significant safety net for people who face hard times. Several amazing nonprofit programs exist to help, thanks to the generosity of the people here.

However, I dream about having more options to help people escape poverty. Not an easy task! I am a huge believer in the power of self-management and hard work, but it takes more than that for a person to successfully rise out of difficult circumstances. It is like the analogy of the slippery hill – there are many things (addiction, lack of education, lack of social support, fear of losing benefits) that can keep us from moving upward. Sometimes we need a hand up.

Poverty has many causes, but there are two factors you might not have considered that can really trap a person there. The first is difficulty in building and sustaining assets (savings, insurance). United Way Worldwide has identified that when a family can maintain at least $300 in their checking account, they are significantly more successful at weathering what life brings. There is an innovative pilot program in a few states (SaveUSA) that allows low-income individuals to save up to $2,000 from a tax refund in a savings account. If the money is left in the account for a full year, then it is matched by donors’ dollars (doubles the money). This program significantly encourages and rewards savings.

A second unexpected factor in poverty is cultural. Many of us have life knowledge that we take for granted. For example, there are unwritten expectations in a workplace that can make or break one’s chances (knowledge about what to wear for an interview, expectations about appropriate language, how to ask for time off). Without that knowledge, some can be at a disadvantage. Related to this, an innovative program called Bridges to Success (e.g., in Moffatt County) provides training and mentorship in those unwritten rules that may be an invisible barrier to success. Some of our local agencies already provide guidance in these areas, but the classes offer a more structured approach with significant follow-up to help encourage participants to implement what they have learned.

United Way of Southwest Colorado realizes the importance of safety net programs, but is always looking for the most effective ways to help give that hand up to help people ascend. These innovative programs from other communities are encouraging. We will be working over the next year to gather additional community ideas to find the best ways to make long term investments in people. Thank you for Living United.

Lynn Urban is president and CEO of United Way of Southwest Colorado.



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