Basic Needs

SUPPORTING A SAFETY NET OF FOOD AND SHELTER

Basic Needs Icon BASIC NEEDS

United Way supports emergency services vital to the basic needs (food and shelter) of the most vulnerable members of our community. These services, which include services for victims of violence and disaster, stabilize families so that they may begin building a good quality of life.

United Way of Central Illinois advances the common good by focusing on protecting services vital to the immediate basic needs of the most vulnerable members of our community; while making long term investments in education, financial stability and health, because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life.

We bring together people and organizations from all across the community who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. UWCIL accomplishes this goal by targeting resources to a determined set of priorities that were selected and are continuously reviewed by Vision Councils with the help of the community, requiring consistency in outcome measurement and striving towards community wide shared metrics, and gradually increasing the proportion of funding directed toward BIG community change.

Below is information regarding United Way’s Strategic Investment Plan and Community Priorities for the basic needs issue area. The Strategic Investment Plan and related information outline a multi-year funding plan that was developed in partnership with community leaders and service providers which will track community level indicators and the effectiveness of United Way funded programs.

United Way and its partners identified priorities, strategies and aligned outcomes to direct our work. Together, we identified and are working toward key indicators of success. We hold ourselves and our partners accountable to achieving success by using concrete metrics, based on local, state and federal data to measure our progress. We will adjust our programs and approaches as needed to ensure that we are making the most effective use of available resources.

You can learn more about Basic Needs priorities and strategies here.

2023-2026 Basic Needs Investments

  • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois - St. John's Breadline
  • Contact Ministries - Emergency Shelter for Women and Women with Children
  • Helping Hands of Springfield, Inc. - Emergency Shelter and Support Services/Threshold
  • Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery - Crisis Nursery Core Program
  • Senior Services of Central Illinois - Daily Bread Home Delivered Meals
  • Sojourn Shelter and Services - Adult and Children Shelter