Rappahannock United Way (RUW) was one of the first non-profits to answer the call for help in the wake of COVID-19. Now as our community prepares for long term recovery, RUW is set to continue their work for those who are ALICE.
ALICE® is a United Way acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and represents those individuals and families who are working, but still struggling to make ends meet.
ALICE families or individuals struggle to pay the bills, have little or nothing to put into savings and are forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push ALICE households into a financial crisis.
“We’ve only just begun. Rappahannock United Way has seen an increase in calls for assistance every day and anticipate numbers to grow. We thank all our individual, corporate, government and foundation partners who have given generously to support this work through RUW. We are working tirelessly to help as many households as possible. In the weeks and months ahead, as Rappahannock United Way continues to respond to new ALICE Assistance Program cases and transitions to COVID-19 recovery, our work becomes even more important. We anticipate running out of funds by the fall” Janel Donohue, President, Rappahannock United Way.
Over the past 3 months alone, Rappahannock United Way’s ALICE Assistance Program has provided $30,398 in direct financial aid. This includes help with mortgages, rent, utilities, and transportation. 33% of ALICE Assistance clients live in Spotsylvania County, 31% in Stafford County, 22% in the City of Fredericksburg, 8% in Caroline County and 6% in King George County.
Rappahannock United Way’s financial assistance is a one-time payment with opportunity for renewal based on availability of funding and the household’s need for additional assistance and continued eligibility. In addition to donations from organizations, companies and individuals Rappahannock United Way has recently been named a grantee from the Department of Health and Community Development through the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program. People interested in receiving assistance from this grant through RUW must also meet the following criteria:
- Have experienced a loss of income due to the Coronavirus pandemic including but not limited to:
- Those who have been laid off;
- Those whose place of employment has closed;
- Those who have experienced a reduction in hours of work;
- Those who must stay home to care for children due to closure of day care and/or school;
- Those who have lost child or spousal support;
- Those who have not been able to work or missed hours due to contracting COVID-19;
- Those who have been unable to find work due to COVID-19; or
- Those whose are unwilling or unable to participate in their previous employment due to their high riskof severe illness from COVID-19
Rappahannock United Way would like to thank everyone who has helped them answer the increasing needs of our community and celebrate and acknowledge all of those who Give, Advocate and Volunteer. Thank you for choosing to BE THERE!
For more information about the ALICE Assistance Program or Rappahannock United Way, please visit: www.rappahannockunitedway.org
For those in the Fredericksburg Region, if you have been affected financially by COVID-19 and need help please call (540) 373-0041 x 300 or visit:
www.rappahannockunitedway.org/get-help/individual/.
If you are looking for a way to #BETHERE for those impacted by COVID-19 and are in a position to give, please text BETHERE to 41444 to donate today or visit:
