Community Impact Building Financial Stability: Rachel - Rachel's early 20s were turbulent. A marriage,…

Financial Stability

Building a stable financial life for Nashville adults

The average annual income for an adult with a high school diploma or GED is $7,400 more than those without.

16% of adults in Davidson County do not have a high school diploma or GED.  Last year, United Way-funded programs helped 540 adults improve reading skills and 232 adults receive a GED.  This represents an increased earning potential of over $1.7 million for the adults that received a GED.

By focusing on two areas, Meeting Basic Needs and Building Financial Stability, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville works with programs that give adults in Nashville the skills and support they need to stand on their own two feet. 

Income Focus Areas

Meeting Basic Needs

Help more than 2,500 adults become self-sufficient, earn a sustainable wage and build financial stability by meeting basic needs such as food and shelter, improving their education and life skills, and increasing job skills through training.

Building Financial Security

Funded programs help more than 2,500 adults earn a sustainable wage and become self-sufficient by providing opportunities for education, employment and permanent housing.

Income Program Partners

Building Financial Security Program Partners

• Adult Education (Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.)
• Adult Education (YWCA)
• Alcohol & Drug Halfway House (Samaritan Recovery Community Inc)
• Community Career Center -  Work Your Money (PENCIL Foundation)
• Comprehensive Affordable Housing Services (Residential Resources, Inc.)
• Dismas House of Nashville (Dismas House – Nashville)
• Employment Program (Park Center)
• Employment Services (Rochelle Center)
• English for Life (Nashville Adult Literacy Council)
• Financial Education 101 for Refugees (Catholic Charities of Tenn. Inc)
• GED (Monroe Harding)
• GED Preparation (Nashville Opportunities Industrialization Center)
• Housing Assistance Program (Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands)
• Job Skills Training and Employment Program (JSTEP) (PENCIL Foundation-JSTEP Location)
• Jobs and Futures:  GED/Adult Literacy Program(Project Return)
• Learning Community South / Community Bridges (Mid TN Supported Living, Inc.)
• Magdalene, INC (Magdalene)
• Opportunity Passport (Monroe Harding)
• OSDN Transitional Housing Program (Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc.)
• Reading for Life (Nashville Adult Literacy Council)
• Residential Programs for Mothers (Renewal House)
• Sembrando Semillas: Planting the Seeds for a Secure Financial Future (Conexion Americas)
• Social Security Advocacy Program (Legal Aid Society of Middle TN and the Cumberlands)
• Sudanese Community and Women’s Services Center:  Social Adjustment Program (Vanderbilt Center for Health Services)
• The Next Door (The Next Door)
• Transitional Employment Services (Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.)
• Transitional Housing (Matthew 25, Inc.)
• Transitional Housing for Families w/Children,Women (Salvation Army)
• Transitional Living Program (Oasis Center, Inc.)

Meeting Basic Needs Program Partners

• Bridge to the Future (Project Return)
• Care-a-van Cuisine Home Meals Delivery (Nashville CARES)
• Crisis Line (Family & Children’s Service)
• Crisis Service (Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.)
• Davidson County Relative Caregiver Program (Family & Children’s Service)
• Emergency Assistance on Past Due Utilities (Old Hickory Christian Community Outreach)
• Emergency Financial Assistance (Catholic Charities of Tenn. Inc)
• Emergency Food (Old Hickory Christian Community Outreach)
• Emergency Food Box (Catholic Charities of Tenn. Inc)
• Emergency Food Box Program (Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee)
• Emergency Services Center (Salvation Army)
• Emergency Shelter Program (Matthew 25, Inc.)
• Financial & Emergency Asst. for People with Disabilities (The Arc of Davidson County)
• Financial Assistance (Ladies of Charity Welfare Agency, Inc.)
• Food Assistance (Ladies of Charity Welfare Agency, Inc.)
• Greater Charlotte Hot Lunch Cooperative (Bethlehem Centers of Nashville)
• HEART Line (Nashville CARES)
• Homeless Outreach (Park Center)
• J.Speed Thomas Mental Health Assistance Center (Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee)
• Kids Café (Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee)
• Loaves and Fishes, Community Meals for the Hungry (Catholic Charities of Tenn. Inc)
• Local Disaster Assistance (American Red Cross)
• Meals on Wheels (FiftyForward)
• Meals on Wheels (Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.)
• Nashville’s Table (Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee)
• Oasis Center Emergency Shelter (Oasis Center, Inc.)
• Oasis Center Outreach Services (Oasis Center, Inc.)
• Poison Help hotline (Tennessee Poison Center)
• Safe Havens (Park Center)
• St. Luke’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program (St. Luke’s Community House)
• St. Luke’s Mobile Meals (St. Luke’s Community House)
• The Domestic Violence Center:  Crisis Line (YWCA)
• The Domestic Violence Center:  Emergency Shelter (YWCA)

Rose’s Story

Rose had tried to beat her addiction to drugs and alcohol many times on her own and failed.
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