Our community’s families must have the resources they need to remain financially stable and free from violence, abuse and sexual assault.

United Way and partners are helping working families achieve financial stability through asset building and financial education.  

Through the Tucson Learn 2 $ave program, low-income families are starting Individual Development Accounts (IDA). For every dollar that families invest in the IDA, they receive $4 in matching funds to buy a home, start a small business or further their education. Participants take financial education classes to help them budget, improve their credit and save regularly. 

Thousands more working families are becoming financially stable, thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Initiative Task Force, a partnership of United Way, City of Tucson, Pima County and more than 25 non-profit organizations. Families use the tax credit to cover basic needs, pay down debt or open a bank account — ultimately increasing their long-term financial stability. First convened by United Way in November of 2003, the Task Force has connected more than 7,500 low-income taxpayers to more than $3.5 million in EITC refunds. Last year volunteers completed tax returns for 3,800 low-income workers resulting in more than $4 million in overall federal refunds at 15 sites across the community. The EITC is the largest single tool for lifting working families out of poverty. 

United Way Family Violence Prevention Workgroup helps to stop violence before it starts. To address these issues the work group has launched the Neighborhood Development for Family Violence Prevention project. Members in the project believe the solution to violence must start with residents who are committed to the health and security of their own families and neighborhoods.

For more information about Strong Families, please contact:

H. Daniels Duncan
Senior Vice President, External Relations
duncan@unitedwaytucson.org
520.903.9000 ext. 810