Serving Those in Need
Zonta InterDistrict Summit, June 2017
Presentation Overview

Introductions

Exercise – Who Are the Underserved

Definitions

Solutions

Discussion

What to Do With An Idea
Who Are the
Underserved?
Traditionally Underserved Populations
People
of Color
Native
Americans
(including Hawaiians
& Alaskans)
Immigrating
Populations
Those
in Poverty
Veterans
(especially
female veterans)
The Changing Face of Poverty
Who is Living in Poverty?

Although the African American population has the
largest percentage of people living in poverty,
there are many more white Americans living
below the poverty line

In 2015, 17.8 million white Americans lived below
the poverty line, compared to 10 million African
Americans. (There is a significant statistical
difference between the poverty percentages of
these populations)
Living - 2

In 2015, 9% of all White Americans were in
poverty, while 24% of African Americans were in
poverty. In the same year, 12 million Hispanics (of
any race) and 2 million Asian Americans lived in
poverty
More Women & Children

In the United States more women than men live in poverty

In 2015, 24 million women lived in poverty while 19
million men lived in poverty. This means 2.4% more
women than men lived in poverty

Children are about 23.1% of the total population, but
33.3% of the poor population
 The
poverty rate for children also varies substantially
by race & Hispanic origin
You Know Me
Do You Know ALICE?

Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed...

The report documents the working poor using a
specific metric: People whose income is above the
poverty level but who still don't earn enough to
provide for a basic household budget

In NY, based on federal guidelines, 15 percent
(1.1 million) of New York households live in
poverty. Another 29 percent (2.1 million), qualify
as ALICE households
ALICE

Looks at what it costs to afford the basic
necessities (housing, child care, food,
transportation, health care)

The bare minimum budget does not allow for any
savings, leaving a household vulnerable to
unexpected expenses – Household Survival Budget
The Benefits Cliff:
The Paradox of the Minimum Wage

Even as the higher minimum wages attempt to lift
low-wage workers out of poverty and help them
get off benefits, it often leaves them worse off
than before.

Why? The few extra dollars tacked onto their pay
checks cause them to lose their federal benefits,
including food stamps or housing subsidies (and
can often affect child care subsidies as well).
Consequences of
Poverty

Income equalities

Social exclusion

Higher unemployment

Homelessness or living in
substandard housing

Shorter lifespan

Disproportionate effect on children

Overall negative effect on families,
employers & communities
Changing Demographics, Changing Needs

Crime/Violence Prevention

Early Childhood (to include child care)

Employment & Training

Health Care Financing & Delivery

Housing/Homelessness

Mental Health

Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment
Building Successful
Projects
A successful community service
project is the result of clear
objectives, thoughtful planning
and coordination, the right
partners, savvy use of
resources, corrections &
changes as the project
progresses, follow-through &
critical evaluation.
Tips For
Successful
Community
Projects

Mission-driven, solutions focused

Community working relationships
based on understanding & trust

Being aware of & respecting social
traditions

Can be replicated

Is measurable

Consider a pilot project first
Measuring Community Impact

Outputs –
 The countable result of a project
 It can also be seen as the result of a particular program
or initiative
 Allows you to quickly & easily quantify the reach of
your project

Outcomes –
 Enumerate why we do it and whether we are having
the impact we desire
 Typically, reflects a change in knowledge, behavior or
status on the part of the client
Innovative Projects & Programs
“We
can't solve problems by using the same kind
of thinking we used when we created them.”
Albert Einstein
Our

Mission
To support and develop
entrepreneurs and small
businesses in underresourced communities in
the Detroit region, by
providing access to business
loans, business
development services, and
networking opportunities.

Created by the North
Raleigh Rotary Club.

This program works
to develop
successful entrepreneurs who have
limited access to
financial and business
resources.

The program is
modeled after
LaunchDETROIT.
Community Action Agencies

Community Action Agencies (CAA) are local private &
public non-profit organizations that carry out the
Community Action Program (CAP), which was founded by
the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by
empowering the poor as part of the War on Poverty

CAP is designed to assist & empower low-income people to
become self-sufficient

Nearly 99% of the nation’s counties are covered by at least
one of approximately 1,100 non-profit Community Action
Agencies (CAAs)
Your United Way

United Way improves
lives by mobilizing the
caring power of
communities around
the world to advance
the common good.

Povertyusa.org

www.aliceproject.org

Zonta.org

Unitedway.org
For More
Information