|
We all win when families are stable and can support themselves
Achieving Economic Stability
As many as one-third of working Americans do not earn enough money to meet their basic needs. These individuals are walking a financial tightrope — they are barely able to get by, with no ability to save for college, a home, or for retirement.
United Way is working with other community partners to help people and families Build Stable Lives so that they do not have to continually rely on community services or their neighbors for help. We believe that people are capable and willing to help themselves if given the chance to do so.
Stable families are essential to a strong community
United Way's Building Stable Lives was created to strengthen communities by identifying and tacking the underlying causes of the financial hardship facing today’s families. United Way brings together program partners to help lower-income individuals and families achieve financial independence by empowering them with the tools and skills necessary to deal with personal or family issues that may be holding them back.
Why Build Stable Lives in East Lake?
- Only 59% of East Lake residents have a high school diploma or an equivalent
- 26% of East Lake residents live below the poverty level
- Unemployment rate in East Lake is 11.6%
- 25% of home owners and 39% of renters in East Lake spend more than 40% of their annual income on housing costs (rent or house payments)
- Only 51.9% of 9th graders will graduate from high school - Howard High is the school attended by students from East Lake and its graduation rate is among the lowest in the County
- More than 40% of children in central Chattanooga neighborhoods failed to meet attendance goals in 2005-6 and these neighborhoods had the highest percentage of students scoring below proficiency in math and reading
- More than half of the students in schools in East Lake will change schools one or more times during the schools year due to unstable housing
|
