Partners can help families move up economic ladder
Florida, like many states across the nation, has a problem with poverty. In recent months, the Florida Chamber Foundation has reported that more than 3.1 million people in Florida — 15.8 percent — live in poverty.
United Way of Florida’s recently updated ALICE Report for 2017 shows this problem is even more textured. In addition to those living below the federal poverty level, nearly 6 million more Floridians living just above the poverty line still struggle to pay for basic costs of living — food, health care, housing, child care and transportation.
So what can be done to address this problem? What approaches can we take together to combat poverty and help our fellow Floridians achieve lasting financial stability?
Members of the NeighborWorks Florida Collaborative, a group of nonprofit housing and community development organizations spread across the state, have a strategy. It involves creating new, cross-sector collaborations throughout our state that empower more of our low-tomoderate-income neighbors to accumulate financial assets.
Efforts to help Americans escape generational poverty through asset building have proved effective in states around the country, and in local communities in Florida. Imagine what we could achieve by working together statewide.
Helping Floridians increase their assets — homeownership, savings, education, small business and other means — has always been a hallmark of comprehensive community development organizations working across our state under the NeighborWorks banner.
The outcomes of the 12 local nonprofits in the collaborative, both individually and collectively, are substantial. In fiscal year 2016, we leveraged nearly $194 million in total investment, assisted more than 17,000 families with affordable housing, counseled and educated 6,888 individuals and families, and created or maintained nearly 1,130 jobs.
However, we know that more can be done to help Florida’s families move up the economic ladder. We also recognize that myriad new partnerships will need to be created and leveraged to be successful.
That’s why last month we hosted our first interactive discussion on effective and innovative asset-building strategies in conjunction with Florida Prosperity Partnership’s 9th Annual Statewide Conference in Orlando.
The event included remarks from NeighborWorks America President and CEO Paul Weech; highlighted effective strategies that NeighborWorks Florida Collaborative members are already deploying; and most significantly, invited thoughts from those in attendance on how we can all to work together to create greater economic opportunities through asset-building partnerships.
Yes, Florida has a poverty problem. But by working together in as many ways as we can, to create as many opportunities for Florida residents as we can, the NeighborWorks Florida Collaborative believes that our state also has the potential to be a national leader in helping its residents build more-prosperous futures for themselves and the communities they call home.