This nonprofit helps Central Texans access more than 30,000 essential resources
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By United Way for Greater Austin
On a triple-digit mid-July day, a mother finds out her utilities are going to be shut off, leaving her and her children at risk of heat exhaustion and spoiling expensive groceries meant for feeding her family. A young family receives an unexpected eviction notice with no back-up options and an 18-month housing waitlist in their area.
These are just two stories of thousands from families in our community.
With a call to United Way for Greater Austin’s Navigation Center, the mother whose utilities were going to be shut off didn’t have to go a moment without AC, thanks to emergency funds she received. For the young family that received the eviction notice, one call to the Navigation Center helped them find an apartment within two weeks. They never had to wonder where they would stay the night.
Ensuring access to sufficient resources
Affordability is one of the biggest challenges that Central Texans are facing today. In fact, over the last five years, rent has increased by 19%, the average home cost has increased 40%, and the median family income has increased by only 19%. And housing affordability is only one issue that our region is facing.
That’s why United Way for Greater Austin runs its Navigation Center, a 24-hour confidential support line helping connect people to resources for food, health, child care, employment, housing, transportation, disaster relief, and more. In the past year alone, the Navigation Center answered more than 200,000 requests for help.
“Lately more than ever I've been hearing from individuals who have said that 'I never expected to be in this situation myself. I've worked my whole life and I can't believe that I'm calling here looking for rental assistance.'”
— Binta Winship, Navigation Center Manager
How to get help
You can connect with the Navigation Center in the way that works for you. Call 2-1-1, visit connectatx.org, or text your zip code to 85511.
The Navigation Center will provide you with streamlined access to information about more than 30,000 local, statewide, and national resources.
How to get involved
Your donation will help ensure people are connected to sufficient resources. When you donate to United Way, your dollars stay local to make a real and lasting difference for people in our community. Every dollar makes a difference. Donate today.
United Way for Greater Austin builds opportunity to break the cycle of poverty here in our community.