United Way of Suwannee Valley, Inc.

United Way of Suwannee Valley's goals include effectively serving as the homeless coalition lead agency and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead agency to maximize the resources and, therefore, assistance available to address needs of those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and providing a coordinated entry process to ensure a homeless system of care providing for prioritization of those households with the greatest length of time homeless and/or highest acuity of needs as well as, through HMIS, a community coordinated case management system for data collection and reporting capabilities and elimination of duplication of services. The goal of United Way of Suwannee Valley’s early literacy initiative is to ensure students entering kindergarten with a literacy deficit achieve positive growth exceeding a control group. Volunteers are recruited to serve as ReadingPals, who are paired with kindergarten ReadingPals students. Classroom materials are provided for use by ReadingPals volunteers working with their assigned students. Take-home books are provided to ReadingPals students to promote literacy development at home. Through United Way of Suwannee Valley’s support of safety net services afforded through United Way of Suwannee Valley affiliated agencies, the agency supports the community in addressing unmet human service needs ranging from those for the youngest citizens to youth programs to senior citizens. Through the contract with the Columbia County Board of County Commissioners, United Way of Suwannee Valley seeks to administer the CARES Act funding to provide financial assistance support, and, therefore, family stability through assistance with rent, mortgage, electricity, internet and/or cell phone expenses.

United Way of Suwannee Valley's strategies for accomplishing its goals are enumerated in the organization's Strategic Plan. United Way of Suwannee Valley's strategies for accomplishing its goals include: providing direction to the future development of the United Way by ensuring organizational documents meet the needs of the strategic direction of the United Way; by recruiting, hiring and developing staff positions to ensure an employee base to meet the future needs of the United Way; by establishing and/or strengthening committees to ensure collectively the committees are positioned to meet the needs of the United Way; by identifying and addressing the most pressing current human service needs of the community in collaboration with the Community Impact Committee; by promoting the efficient delivery of human services which are effectively related to the most pressing needs; by cultivating individual and corporate support of United Way to maximize resources for community impact initiatives and agency support; by maximizing community receipt of grant funds to maximize resources for community impact initiatives and agency support; and by cultivating collaborative relationships between United Way, community entities and agencies while promoting support of United Way.

United Way of Suwannee Valley's capabilities for meeting its goals include an active and effective Board of Directors and committees including but not limited to the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Community Impact Committee, Community Investment Committee, Marketing Committee, and a committed staff; and a broad range of community investors contributing through their time, talents and treasures. United Way of Suwannee Valley has a 50-plus year history of a community fundraising effort resulting in relationships with community corporate entities. The organization has also gained expertise in grant procurement and management as well as in the delivery of direct services for case management and financial assistance and in volunteer recruitment and engagement. An additional capability for achieving goals is the ability to access expertise from fellow local United Ways and United Way Worldwide.

United Way of Suwannee Valley (UWSV) has made significant progress in effectively serving as the lead agency for the homeless coalition, coordinated entry system, and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). United Way of Suwannee Valley has been effective in achieving a sufficient score on the annual HUD CoC Program collaborative application to provide for permanent supportive housing projects for chronically homeless including veterans, HMIS, Coordinated Entry, and rapid rehousing. Additionally, United Way applies for and secures funds through the State of Florida Office on Homelessness. As the coalition continues to address the goals of Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, efforts continue to improve on the coalition's coordinated entry system and case management practices. Coordination of veteran homeless services is provided for through coordinated entry and through a Homeless Veterans Committee. Street outreach with a goal of identifying and providing case management towards housing stability for those with a mental health issue is provided through PATH funding. Relative to the goal to utilize available resources to positively impact educational attainment, the UWSV ReadingPals initiative is in its fifth school year with three of the UWSV service area counties participating. Relative to the goal to support the safety net of services afforded through United Way of Suwannee Valley affiliated agencies, an annual community fundraising campaign is accomplished each year; however, those components which are goals for future accomplishment include the continual development of a broader base of support, stronger base of support, and increased donor engagement, notably through utilization of social media and volunteer engagement opportunities. Relative to the goal to support the community in addressing unmet human service needs, UWSV prior accomplishments include securing grant funds in 2004 to initiate a food bank which was transitioned to Catholic Charities, initiating a local community foundation as a component fund of a larger foundation to provide a vehicle for planned giving, initiating and maintaining the homeless coalition, Homeless Management Information System, coordinated entry system, and direct financial and case management services while continuing community support via volunteerism and resources to address human needs. Additional projects addressing unmet human service needs are vetted by the Community Impact Committee as resources are identified to address needs.