- United Way North Central Florida awarded two $20,000 grants to Peaceful Paths and Partnership for Strong Families to aid ALICE households.
- Peaceful Paths will use its grant to assist domestic violence survivors with housing and childcare, while Partnership for Strong Families supports rural emergency aid programs.
United Way North Central Florida (UWNCF) has awarded two $20,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations to help improve financial security for ALICE households across the region.
The grants were awarded to Peaceful Paths and Partnership for Strong Families as part of United Way North Central Florida’s efforts to support ALICE households — families and individuals who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and often living one unexpected expense away from financial hardship, according to a UWNCF press release.
Peaceful Paths, a certified domestic violence center serving Alachua, Bradford and Union counties, received a $20,000 grant to assist survivors of domestic violence and their children. The funding will help remove barriers related to housing, childcare and transportation as survivors work to establish lives free from violence and achieve long-term financial stability.
Peaceful Paths provides emergency shelter, a 24-hour helpline, victim advocacy, children’s programming, economic empowerment services, counseling, support groups and violence prevention programs.
According to the organization, financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to maintain power and control, making access to housing, transportation and childcare critical for survivors seeking independence and safety. The grant will provide one-time financial assistance to help prevent economic crises following the trauma of abuse and enable survivors to access additional support services.
Partnership for Strong Families received a $20,000 grant to support its Rural Emergency Assistance Program, which serves residents in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties, and Community Resource Navigation Program, which reaches rural areas of Alachua County.
Now in its seventh year, the Rural Emergency Assistance Program provides one-time assistance to families facing urgent financial needs, including rent, utilities, mortgage payments, internet service, vehicle repairs, prescription medications and employment-related childcare expenses.
The program addresses service gaps that often affect ALICE households, many of whom earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance programs but still struggle to meet basic needs. The funding will help expand access to emergency support and resource navigation services that reduce barriers to long-term financial stability.
“These investments reflect our commitment to supporting hardworking ALICE households who are often one unexpected expense away from crisis,” said Amber Miller, president and CEO of UWNCF, in the press release. “By partnering with organizations like Peaceful Paths and Partnership for Strong Families, we are removing critical barriers to safety and stability and helping families across our region build a stronger, more financially secure future.”
The grants align with UWNCF’s strategic focus on financial security, healthy communities, youth opportunity and community resiliency. Using ALICE data to identify community needs, the organization directs funding toward programs designed to help working families overcome immediate challenges while building pathways to long-term stability.
UWNCF encourages residents, businesses and community organizations to support these efforts through volunteering, donations and advocacy on behalf of ALICE households.
For more information about United Way North Central Florida and its initiatives, visit www.unitedwayncfl.org.