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The Results
United Way supports a network of more than 700 of the most effective human care programs across the region. We take an "outcomes-based" approach to funding, requiring all of our programs to clearly outline what they are trying to achieve and how they will measure their success—and then demonstrate measurable progress toward those goals. To United Way, results are what matters.
"...Charities doing the most with the money, addressing the most glaring needs in the most cost-effective ways, will be the most attractive. There are few that perform better than United Way of Metropolitan Chicago." —Chicago Tribune
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Here are just a few examples of the results our funded programs are delivering:
Educational Achievement. One in three children in our region is not ready to learn by the time she/he enters kindergarten. But nearly 90% of the preschoolers who attend the United Way supported St. James Early Childhood Center master the skills they need to be successful in first grade.
Financial Stability. When incarcerated individuals are released from prison, they often struggle to find employment due to limited job skills and criminal records—and, with few options, many return to a life of crime. In fact, the recidivism rate among this population is 60%. But among those who graduate from the United Way funded community re-entry program at Safer House, the recidivism rate drops dramatically to just 18%.
Affordable Housing. With housing costs skyrocketing as average incomes are declining, homeownership seems out of reach for many people in our region. But an impressive 90% of the clients that participate in the homeownership program at Acorn Housing become first-time homeowners and stable contributors to their communities.
Access to Healthcare. Four out of five children do not receive all of their required vaccinations and are in danger of acquiring potentially devastating yet entirely preventable diseases. But 100% of the low-income, uninsured three-year olds who receive services through Access Community Health Network have received the immunizations they need to stay healthy.
Crisis Support. Every year, nearly 166,000 people in our region experience homelessness. But 92% of the formerly homeless families that receive job training, housing assistance and personal budgeting classes through a United Way funded program at Bridge Communities are not only off the streets but are maintaining stable housing and employment—and 22% even own their own homes!
