Standing up for Florida’s families

Standing up for Florida’s families 2021-11-02T13:58:13-04:00

Advocating for change is an essential component to achieving our mission and goals. And that mission is to work for needed change in education, financial stability and public health policies, on behalf of ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Around 30% of Florida households with a regular income are only one family emergency away from falling into poverty – in Miami-Dade that number is 37%. ALICE families are defined as people who work, earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, but can barely cover the basics: housing, child care, food, health care, transportation and technology.

Building a stronger Miami, together.

United Ways statewide work together to lift up the needs of ALICE families, and the agencies we fund in our communities, through the Statewide Consensus Agenda. 

Our 2022 Agenda focuses on emerging and longstanding needs in Miami-Dade. The increasing minimum wage highlights the need to find solutions to benefits cliffs for low-wage workers and increased flexibility in eligibility for safety net programs, which low-wage workers rely on to make ends meet. Adding to the already challenging environment for programs that serve ALICE workers and families is the need for increased contracted reimbursement rates and subsidies for state-funded programs and services related to the upcoming increase in the minimum wage.

Our early childhood educators, who are ALICE themselves, have been essential to the workforce during the pandemic, are invariably in need of wage relief as well. Our efforts also must recognize the impact of professional credentials on the quality of education and development of the children in their care.

The population of adults over 65 in Florida, and Miami-Dade especially, is expected to grow from 20% to 30% in the next 10 years. In order to ensure we have the programs and support to meet their needs, we’re prioritizing home and community based services.

Through our MISSION UNITED program, we are working to ensure Veterans in Florida are able to transition out of service and into civilian life but, often these transitions are unnecessarily burdened by civilian job requirements. The training and skills they learned serving our country are valuable and we’re working on expediting their transitions into careers.

For more information, contact advocacy@unitedwaymiami.org

Our Legislative Agenda

United Way’s public policy priorities are focused on three main areas:

  • Securing quality early care and education to give all children the best possible start in school and in life;
  • Empowering families and individuals to become financially stable and economically independent to prevent falling into poverty;
  • Providing access to health care for all individuals.

We can’t do it alone, so we work together with business and community leaders, local and state governments — AND YOU.

Your voice is the key to making real change happen. You can help influence decisions that impact at-risk families and children in our community.

Make your voice heard

Discover how you can help United Way direct much needed funding for local programs and policies that support children and working families in your community.

Sign up today! Contact advocacy@unitedwaymiami.org or call (305) 646-7093.