OUR GOAL: 15,000 people will be ready to start stable careers having overcome key employment barriers by 2029.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

Reducing employment barriers isn’t just about finding jobs. It’s about creating a more equitable, resilient community where everyone can thrive.

When we, as a community, focus on Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement, we address:

• Individual well-being. Having a good job provides financial stability, improves mental health, and enhances quality of life.
• Long-term impact. Collectively, we are addressing employment disparities, ensuring all community members have opportunities to succeed.
• Economic growth. A fully employed population contributes to increased consumer spending, higher tax revenues, and overall economic vitality.

Through Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement, we focus on the root causes of barriers to employment. These are the barriers that are preventing people from getting a good job and supporting their families.

HOW WE’RE CHANGING LIVES

We are on track to meet our goal, with 5,104 people overcoming key employment barriers since the start of the initiative in 2023. 

 Since the beginning of funding:

• Over 17,500 people have been served by Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement programs. 
• 1,089 industry-recognized credentials were obtained, including GEDs, High School Equivalency Diplomas, CNA, childcare, pre-apprentice certification, IT services, and construction certifications. 
• 204 arrest records were expunged, in addition to 11 pardons. 
• 214 driver's licenses were recovered. 
• Over 1,000 riders received frequent rides to their jobs 
• Over 1,200 individuals gained employment after being part of a Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement-funded program. 

Our community saw the following results in 2024-25:

• Over 7,600 people were served by Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement programs. 
• 1,041 people obtained industry-recognized credentials, including GEDs, High School Equivalency Diplomas, CNA, childcare, and pre-apprentice certification. 
• 125 arrest records were expunged, and 4 pardons were obtained. 
• 91 driver's licenses were recovered. 
• Over 1,000 riders received frequent rides to their jobs.
• Over 700 individuals gained employment after being part of a Reducing Barriers to Employment & Advancement-funded program.

In 2024-25, United Way provided funding to organizations focused on:

• Supporting people with disabilities.
• Empowering justice-impacted individuals.
• Addressing the need for skilled healthcare professionals.
• Moving members from “low-skill” positions to “mid-skill” positions that require more than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year degree.
• Offering opportunities to participate in English language learning, adult education, and GED preparation.
• Providing transportation to help someone get to wellpaying jobs.

Our Goal: We have met our goal of ending family homelessness in our four-county footprint.

We have met the 58 criteria established by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness for ending family homelessness in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties. We are grateful to everyone who have partnered with us. Together, we’ve built strategies, set goals, secured grants, launched programs, expanded existing programs, and so much more.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

United Way started working with an advisory council of experts on homelessness six years ago. We learned:

• About 5,000 students were reported as homeless during a typical school year in our four-county school districts.
• Around 40-50 families entered our local shelters each month, and in Wisconsin, 1/3 of the population experiencing homelessness were families with at least one child under the age of 18.
• School mobility can create behavioral issues and lowers educational achievement for that student.

HOW WE’RE CHANGING LIVES

Since the beginning of Safe and Stable Homes, United Way funded programs have served almost 32,000 families.

Our community saw the following results in 2024-25:

• Over 4,600 families were served by Safe & Stable Homes programs.
• Nearly 3,000 families had legal aid in their eviction cases at no cost to them. 
• 24 programs were in place across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties offering flexible financial assistance, case management, and legal advice/assistance to meet families' unique needs to remain stably housed.
• Six families became first-time homeowners through Habitat for Humanity in Waukesha.
• The Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center helped over 17,700 households with rental assistance, legal aid, and mediation and provided resources to over 70,000 tenants and landlords through their website.

In 2024–25, United Way provided funding to organizations, focused on:

• Providing community case management.
• Offering financial assistance.
• Covering closing costs for homeowners.
• Coordinating access to resources and supportive housing for individuals and families.
• Delivering wraparound supportive services for families.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

This initiative began as an emergency response to COVID-19, providing devices and other essential digital resources to people who had technology needs.

Early Techquity-focused efforts included the distribution of smartphones and hotspots, along with data plans. For example, we provided 9,000 students with earbuds or headsets with microphones for virtual learning between 2020-21.

It was during this time that we learned more about the digital divide.

Individuals and families without access to computers or the internet struggle to stay connected in our technology-driven world.

Across our four counties, over 93,000 households lack a basic computer, and over 120,000 households lack a basic home internet connection.

A report by Employ Milwaukee indicates that 1 in 3 unemployed workers in Wisconsin lack foundational digital skills. According to the National Skills Coalition, 89% of jobs in Wisconsin require digital skills. This means people are not getting the jobs they want because they lack important digital skills.

HOW WE’RE CHANGING

We have distributed business-grade laptop computers to over 23,978 people.

Our community saw the following results in 2024-25:

• Over 40 nonprofit agencies were onboarded as new distribution partners in 2025.
• Over 40 distribution events have been held, with many more planned.
• 4,330 people have received digital navigation services. These individuals received 5152 unique services (help logging on, setting up email, etc.).

Our Goal: Empowering Minds Schools will elevate the mental wellness of 21,000 high school students by 2030.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

It’s not easy being an adolescent or a young adult. Not only are they experiencing physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that can be uncomfortable and confusing, but they’re also dealing with societal expectations and challenges.

According to the World Health Organization, half of all mental health conditions start by age 14. Most cases go undetected and untreated until many years later or sometimes not at all.

Adolescence is a pivotal time for young people. When we can help kids here, we help launch successful futures.

When we, as a community, focus on Teen Mental Wellness, we are:

• Creating systems level change. Comprehensive school mental health systems will have positive effects at school, in the community, and at home.
• Supporting our children so they feel less sad and hopeless.
• Reducing mental health disparities among students.
• Improving student learning, attendance, engagement, and graduation rates.
• Reducing bullying, risky behaviors, substance abuse, school violence, and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

HOW WE’RE CHANGING LIVES

One school (Waukesha South High School) met the required milestones needed to meet the definition of elevating the mental wellness of their students, so we can now count a total of 1,089 students toward our main goal. We are on pace to meet our goal by 2030.

Overall, 9,294 students were provided mental health support and services across all nine schools funded in 2024-2025.

In the 2025-26, the following schools are part of Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds.

• Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee
• Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy High School
• Grafton High School
• Marquette University High School
• Messmer High School
• Milwaukee Academy of Science High School
• Pewaukee High School
• Pius XI Catholic High School
• Ronald Reagan High School
• Shorewood High School
• St. Augustine Preparatory Academy
• Vel R. Philips Juvenile Justice Center School
• Waukesha South High School
• Waukesha West High School
• Wauwatosa East High School
• Wauwatosa West High School

Schools were selected based on student need, school readiness, success potential, and geographic distribution. We anticipate adding schools to the initiative over the next three school years.