‘Udonis, we couldn’t agree more. A stronger Miami is worth fighting for’
In a recent article for The Players’ Tribune, Udonis Haslem, a three-time NBA champion and Miami native wrote “The Real Miami.” It was raw, it was real and, sadly, it was accurate. It is the reality for far too many in our community.
The truth is Miami is a tale of two cities. When most people think of Miami they think of our community’s natural beauty, the beaches and parties; the vibrant multicultural tapestry with entertainers and sport stars as residents and an ultra-luxurious real-estate market. What Haslem describes is the “other Miami,” a community with one of the poorest urban cores and one with increasing wealth and health disparities.
Before the novel coronavirus was even a reality in our community, more than 524,000 households, including 249,034 families with children, were already living in, or on the edge, of poverty. So many relying on their school’s meal as the primary source of nutrition; so many like Haslem described, eating raisins for dinner. And of these households, 40 percent are hardworking families struggling to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck.
These families are highlighted in the United Way ALICE Report, which makes the invisible visible by highlighting the struggles of working families described as “asset limited, income constrained, employed.” The report also shows us that 76,000 households with children are led by single women, and an astonishing 84 percent of them can’t make ends meet, let alone save for their children’s future or for unforeseen situations like our new normal.
A prolonged crisis like this is catastrophic, not only for these families, but also for more than 82,000 small businesses that are the backbone of our local economy.
For 95 years, the United Way has been serving working families in our community, seeking and driving solutions that improve lives, build resiliency and positively affect our local economy. We invest in and collaborate with 60 local agencies, offering
100 programs and services to help break the chains and cycle of poverty, support mental and physical health and promote pathways to prosperity through education.
We know that having a strong base in education and access to healthcare lead to stronger, more financially stable families. Families that can afford to have a roof over their heads, nutritious food on the table, transportation, childcare and access to healthcare — and occasionally enjoy a night out — and still be able to save for rainy days.
Our greatest asset to empower working families is the United Way Center for Financial Stability, which opened its doors in 2009 in partnership with Branches, to provide a full range of services and support — from financial coaching and credit counseling to free tax preparation, employment assistance and more. Today, three centers and several sites work with numerous partners to provide access to comprehensive financial stability services and remove barriers to economic mobility.
Together with countless agencies, thousands of everyday citizens, philanthropists and corporate partners, we have helped our community weather even the most intense storms since 1924. From facing devastating hurricanes to surviving this virus, we will overcome.
For now, stay home, give if you can, and when this is in our rear-view mirror, join United Way at it carries out its mission.
Our motto is as simple now as it was in 1924: “We fight for a stronger Miami.”