Income

November 16th - 24th is National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.  United Way of Portage County (UWPC) joins in the efforts to ensure people are thinking about others in need at this time of year and always.   UWPC is a proud partner and funding supporter of several food pantry and hot meal sites, as well as shelter and housing assistance programs.  A story shared by two of those programs, the Center of Hope, in Ravenna, and Kent Social Services, in Kent, explains how hunger and homelessness can intersect and how they are helping in the community to combat these issues.

2-1-1 is a free, confidential service that helps people across the U.S., and in many parts of Canada, find the local resources they need.  This service is available 365 days per year, 24 hours a day.  By calling 2-1-1, people can be connected with information or resources pertaining to numerous topics or needs.  Some of those main needs are: Education, Employment and Income Support, Family Support & Parenting, Food/Clothing/Household Items, Healthcare, Housing, Utilities, Legal Services, Mental Health Counseling, Community Services and Addiction Services.  

United Way of Portage County (UWPC) is dedicated to helping people achieve financial stability in order to help provide a better quality of life for the residents of our community.  One program that received funding from UWPC is Freedom House, a program that exists to provide emergency shelter to those veterans in a housing crisis, while also providing support, advocacy and referrals to encourage self-sufficiency and movement toward permanent housing.  With

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.  In Portage County, Safer Futures is the domestic violence shelter and resource.  United Way of Portage County provides funds to Safer Futures in order to help those individuals and families in our community who are in need of a safe place to stay, time to recover and help to get through their experience of

United Way of Portage County ensures that the residents of our community have a free information and referral service.  This program can help when a person is facing a crisis, such as in need of emergency utility assistance, or just to obtain needed information, like how to contact their local school district.  Whatever the need, 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free.  United Way funds this service so people can get the answers they need,