UWImpactReportof2025_FIN - Flipbook - Page 8
PRIORITY AREA
FINANCIAL
SECURITY
Financial hardship looks different in every
household. The reasons are complex and
interconnected, often with no single cause or solution.
That’s why United Way of South Central Michigan works in
many ways to create opportunities for families and individuals
to move from barely getting by to thriving. We use every tool
at our disposal — from programs and partnerships to advocacy
and education — to change conditions that keep people from
getting ahead.
HOUSING & UTILITY
Reducing Homelessness
United Way of South Central Michigan is home to
the Continuum of Care (CoC) — in both Calhoun
and Kalamazoo counties - partnering with local
organizations and individuals with lived experience
to reduce homelessness.
In September 2025, the CoC hosted its very 昀椀 rst housing forum. “Housing
Kalamazoo: Collaboration for Housing Equity" brought together more than
25 partner organizations, 157 attendees, and 40 panelists and speakers for
collaboration, connection and education for housing
solutions in Kalamazoo County.
The CoC’s RentAble program is another tool for helping
families stay housed, offering one-time 昀椀 nancial assistance
for costs including application fees, security deposits and
rent increases.
Utility Assistance and Wraparound Services
RentAble
served 318 households
in Kalamazoo County
and distributed
$439,919 in assistance.
(Data from April 2025–
March 2026)
Our Program Assistance Center provides households with
direct 昀椀 nancial assistance to pay heat and electric bills. By
taking immediate pressure off, families can get back on
the path to 昀椀 nancial security. Our experienced PAC team also offers a needs
assessment to each client, connecting them with other non-energy services that
may help them. PAC serves all of Michigan and is part of the Michigan Energy
Assistance Program with additional support from Consumers Energy and DTE.
PAC Impact
• Direct assistance: $6,025,198
• Households provided with 昀椀 nancial assistance: 5,140
• Households provided with assistance and other services including
referrals, budget coaching, and communication with utility vendors to
avoid shutoff: 5,491
• Total counties served: 63
8
2025–2026 Impact Report
Data from October 1, 2024 to Sept 30, 2025
Heaven’s Story
Kalamazoo resident Heaven started
a new job this year with Housing
Resources, Inc. (HRI) as an Intake
Specialist. The journey to get where
she is hasn’t been easy, but she’s had
some transformative experiences along
the way.
Hundreds of people are experiencing
homelessness in Kalamazoo at any
given time – the 2025 Point in Time
Count identi昀椀 ed 791 unhoused
individuals on one January night. Heaven
has been among them.
While working with Open Doors – an
organization that helps local families
achieve housing success - Heaven
learned about and eventually was hired
onto United Way of South Central
Michigan’s Continuum of Care (CoC)
team as a community consultant.
“I liked the fact that they wanted people
with lived experience to give their
input,” Heaven said. “I’ve been able to
help a lot of people learn about different
opportunities or resources here in town.”
She connected with HRI during her
involvement with the CoC, which
eventually led to her new employment.
Grateful for this new opportunity,
Heaven acknowledges CoC’s role in
helping get her to this point.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Heaven said. “It
completely changed my life.”
