United Way is working every day to improve lives and build stronger communities across the region through our Agenda for Change, which represents feedback from over 6,500 tri-county residents and extensive research. The agenda targets Educational Preparedness, Financial Stability and Basic Needs, and will be fully implemented in July 2008.

Increasing Stability Across the Region
Individuals and families of all ages must have the ability to build assets necessary to achieve their educational and financial goals. United Way will do this by working with residents to:

• Increase financial literacy
• Increase and sustain home ownership
• Increase financial resources

Why We’re Taking Action
The persistence of financial instability across the region is disturbing. Foreclosure rates have increased 141 percent in Michigan, including 143 percent in Wayne County, 64 percent in Oakland County and 234 percent in Macomb County over the last year. To complicate matters, 12.6 percent of Michigan households have 0 or negative net worth, and over 30 percent lack a savings account.

One of the most effective ways to improve lives is to provide people opportunities to acquire their own assets. This reduces welfare dependency and bankruptcy rates, while enhancing quality of life and economic wellbeing.

Our Plan
Through Individual Development Accounts and strategies like the Earned Income Tax Credit partnership, foreclosure forums and Money Smart Week, United Way is helping residents across the region access higher education, home ownership, financial literacy and other assets they can use to realize stability and to build better lives.

Addressing Financial Needs
Thanks to Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), more than 316 low-income residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will realize their dreams. To date, 186 IDA participants have used their savings and the matching funds they earn upon successfully completing the program on 74 home mortgages, 20 new or expanded businesses and 92 educational withdrawals.

United Way mobilized 100 volunteers for the Earned Income Tax Credit Partnership. Those volunteers completed 1,127 tax returns at free preparation sites across the region, putting more than $970,000 back into the pockets of deserving metro Detroiters. United Way funds also enabled the Accounting Aid Society to electronically file 5,566 tax returns, allowing filers to get their money sooner to avoid the lure of expensive refund anticipation loans.

About 750 individuals attended 17 financial literacy, credit counseling and money management sessions during Money Smart Week, including the many young people who participated in youth–themed financial seminars.

Through a series of foreclosures forums across the region, United Way is reaching out to consumers suddenly finding themselves in crisis. Our initial forum, held in Macomb County, drew about 100 residents. A total of 45 counselors, lenders and legal professionals assisted with foreclosure prevention resources.