Get the facts!  The war on poverty is not over.

As today’s theme at the Democratic National Convention in Denver turns to economic struggles, and as the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage is commemorated, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data today on poverty, income, and health insurance.  Nearly 570,000 Coloradans, or 12 percent, struggle with poverty—the same rate from the previous year.  The trend of increasing child poverty continued with Colorado’s child poverty rate rising slightly to 15.9 percent.  Statewide data also showed that median household income increased from the previous year, and that 16.8 percent of Coloradans are uninsured, which is higher than the national rate.  Nationally, income inequality is a growing problem facing low- and middle-income earners.

“We’re hitting a false flat, where it looks like things were leveling off or getting better, but now are on course to get much worse,” said Kathy White, Project Director of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute (COFPI).  “We continue to see too little action and too little progress in the fight against poverty. It’s long past time for state leaders to step up and start working to reduce poverty and hardship in Colorado.”

The Census data comes on the heels of other recent alarming news, including a Colorado Children’s Campaign report released in June that shows Colorado has the fastest growing rate of child poverty in the country.  Last year at this time, Colorado was the only state with a significant increase in child poverty, and a COFPI report also released last year showed that one in five households do not earn enough to make ends meet.

Poverty experts also point out that this data is from 2007.  So it does not take into account growing challenges facing families in 2008, such as rising food and fuel prices, increasing overall consumer prices (5.6 percent higher than in July 2007), rising unemployment (at a 3-year high in Colorado), stagnant wage growth, and other disturbing trends. 

As the eyes of the political world focus on Colorado this week, this new data on poverty, income, and health insurance serves as a stark reminder of the very real impact public leaders and public policies have on Coloradans.  While there is much to be proud of in Colorado, there are also some very real struggles that Colorado families are facing every day.  State and federal leaders have the unique opportunity to confront these challenges head-on, with smart, sound policy making. 

“Mile High United Way, along with our many partners, is working hard to help families gain financial stability and self sufficiency,” said Christine Benero, president and CEO of Mile High United Way.  “The facts of poverty in Colorado are not at all reflective of what I know Colorado policy makers to envision for our state.  There is never a more critical time than now for our policy makers to take action and make sure there is a strong, basic safety net for Coloradans who are struggling every day to provide for their families.”

Outraged?  Do something about it!  Donate, volunteer or advocate for Mile High United Way’s Adult Self Sufficiency initiative and become part of the collective generosity of metro Denver.

Brooke was featured as a Mile High United Way success story two years ago. At that point in time, she had just overcome the odds by conquering her drug addiction, escaping from domestic abuse and winning back her children. Click here to read about Brooke’s life today. 

By Nicole Harr and Annie Bacci, Volunteers of America

Since Morgan moved into Brunetti Lofts with her mom and younger sister three years ago, things have changed.  She hasn’t moved homes or schools — which has enabled her to flourish as a student and athlete at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Morgan and her family relocated often before moving into Brunetti Lofts Transformational Housing Program with Volunteers of America.  They were homeless and often stayed in short term transitional housing or with friends and family.  Now at Brunetti, their family works towards saving for their own home.

While Morgan has lived at Brunetti Lofts, she maintained a 3.0 GPA, is a varsity member of the track team, volunteers in the community, and works a part-time job after school.  It’s not unusual to see Morgan leave for the bus stop before the sun comes up, and not return until late in the evening. 

Morgan was recently accepted into Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.  Morgan happily looks forward to going away to school in Atlanta, where many of her extended family members live. 

While Volunteers of America has had the pleasure to see many children flourish in the past three years, Morgan is certainly an exceptional member of our Brunetti Lofts community.  We look forward to seeing Morgan continue to grow and be successful, and look forward to seeing her come home from college to visit her mom in a home of their own someday.

Thirty students from Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools are attending college this upcoming fall/winter with a full scholarship from Mile High United Way, including tuition, books, fees and materials.

Scholarships are made possible through the Mile High United Way Pathway Scholarship, a fund created in May to help students of color, primarily African American, afford and attend college.  Mile High United Way, under its Self Sufficiency initiative, invests in strategies like the Mile High United Way Pathways Scholarship, to help individuals and families achieve financial stability and independence. A large gift from the Peierls Foundation helped make the Mile High United Way Pathway Scholarship available for the 30 students.

“We know that education is one of the best ways you can help at-risk youth in our society overcome hurdles and become self sufficient,” said Gaile Weisbly, senior director of self sufficiency for Mile High United Way. “Our work at Mile High United Way is about investing in youth now so that we have an educated workforce to keep our community healthy and vibrant for years to come.”

The scholarship awardees will attend either Community College of Aurora or Community College of Denver and will complete their Bachelors’ Degrees at Metropolitan State College.

More than 120 people honored the students at a Mile High United Way reception June 25 including their families, community leaders, representatives of Aurora Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State College.

June 20 - PricewaterhouseCoopers hosted the Second Annual ‘Summer Wide-Game Picnic’ for Bridging the Gap youth on June 20.  PwC volunteers headed to Mile High United Way and were greeted by nearly 60 foster youth from across Colorado.  During the Summer Wide-Games, a carnival with a purpose, PwC volunteers barbecued food, played games and networked with foster youth.  Volunteers hosted various life skill booths where participants could listen to lessons on how to balance a budget, how to write a resume, lifelong education, and more. 

Bridging the Gap at Mile High United Way seeks to help youth in foster care reach stability by building personal and financial assets and increasing opportunities.  Youth in Bridging the Gap receive Individual Development Accounts, which are matched savings accounts used to promote asset building.  Participants work to save money in their IDA in order to purchase an asset, such as a vehicle, security deposit on an apartment/down payment on a house, insurance, investments, education or medical costs.  Among other goals, Bridging the Gap seeks to transform the way communities view their responsibility to youth in foster care and provide links to personal networks of caring adults and other young people.

Volunteer Perspective:  Roy Turner, Manager Partner at PwC:

“PricewaterhouseCoopers is celebrating its third annual Day of Service.  This year we are focusing on developing the next generation of leaders by volunteering in schools and at youth organizations. Supporting the development of young people allows our staff to share their skills and knowledge, to advance future leaders and create future talent for the marketplace.

Our staff are very appreciative of the interactions between themselves and those in the community with whom we work.  What we manage to accomplish is every bit as important and meaningful to us as it appears and, we certainly hope, it is to those our efforts support.

To further support our staff in developing meaningful, long-term volunteer relationships with community organizations, we have recently introduced a program awarding each staff member 10 hours of community service time for use throughout the year.  We look forward to hearing about their activities.”

June 27 - Thirty PwC volunteers joined Bridging the Gap youth on June 27th to provide further help to these youth.  Volunteers split into groups to create Asset Packages for Bridging the Gap participants when they purchase an asset with savings from their Individual Development Account.  Volunteers spent the morning creating brochures on information such as maintenance checklists, helpful resources and other things to know to help participants make a successful asset purchase.  Following lunch, volunteers and youth assembled more than 200 Asset Packages that will be given to participants when they make an asset purchase as they exit foster care to independence.

During these two volunteer events, PwC Volunteers made a tremendous impact on the lives of foster youth and were able to share life skills with them.  Volunteers and youth connected during the two days, and the young people were able to walk away with important life skills along with the knowledge that so many people in the business community are committed to their success. 

Volunteers left feeling they had truly touched the lives of foster youth and made a lasting difference.  Bridging the Gap recognizes the value of PwC Volunteers and that support from the business community is integral to the program’s success. 

Volunteer Perspective:  Anonymous Volunteer

“I feel very honored to have been given the opportunity to work with the genuine people I got to meet today.  Some of the individuals, whether high school students or adults, were truly inspiring whether they knew it or not.  It felt so great to give them guidance and share some of my life experience in exchange for the opportunity to be a fleeting moment in what they have witnessed and are going to do with their lives.  These people have been through a lot, I am sure, judging by their dispositions and demeanor, but their desire to listen and take to heart what we shared with them to better themselves increased my selfworth, and for that I will be eternally grateful to the organizers of the event. I am even more thankful to the individuals who came and were willing to share themselves and impart their spirit and background with me in a real life forum of learning.  I cannot express enough what it meant for me to be a part of such an amazing experience. I especially appreciated a young man named Dominique.  He was very shy at first, but then burst to life and was very inquisitive and motivated.  I hope I get the opportunity to meet him again someday and possibly help him to grow his educational and career aspirations.  THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!”