TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The United Way of the Big Bend serves many in the community, and now they're making plans to serve even more.
WTXL ABC's Jada Williams was live Friday morning with details surrounding the changes.
The organization is calling this 5-year-plan a new direction, focusing efforts on helping those in need become more stable through things like job training.
Through surveys, health assessment, strategic listening sessions and a population assessment called an ALICE report, the United Way found that more than half of te people in the Big Bend counties are struggling to make ends meet.
The new plan focuses on three goals: access, stability and development.
The president of United Way says this change from more fundraising to a more direct form of aid makes their priorities more community focused.
"Looking at the pressing problems in this community, using the ALICE report as well, we know that poverty is a problem," said President Katrina Rolle. "We know that people are struggling to make ends meet. So what can we as an organization do to really have an impact? So that was really one of the motivators for this shift."
The 5-year-plan has five outcome areas: housing, early learning, safety net services, aging workforce, and development or getting needed skills for sustainable jobs.
Rolle also mentioned the United Way will be opening up to allow more non profits to join the 36 approved organizations that they work with.
