UCHRA developing two new programs to further increase the quality of life for families throughout the Upper Cumberland.
Executive Director Mark Farley said UCHRA plans to partner with the Putnam County Schools, pending funding, to assist the families of pre schoolers attending the new Early Learning Center. Farley said he hopes to assist these families in the same way as those enrolled in the Empower Program, but wonders how it looks for these students.
“Theoretically, they’re not hungry anymore,” Farley said. “Theoretically, they’ve got a better quality of life. We’re hoping in this partnership to say the families that we’re helping, it translates to the kids in school, that they’re doing better.”
Farley said UCHRA is working on a pitch to help families in Cumberland County as well. He said there is already a partnership in place with Trauma Informed Community Alliance, or TICA. Farley said TICA combines the county’s non-profits that help people who are struggling.
The Empower UC Program works with families as a whole to set goals, find sustainable work, and overcome poverty. Farley said the program has helped families who completed the program increase their incomes by a combined $2.4 million.
Farley said this is a long term project. If it ultimately receives the needed funding and has success, Farley said expansion to other Upper Cumberland counties is possible. UCHRA has submitted a funding application for this program with the Department of Human Services., and a decision on funding has not been made.
In Cumberland, Farley said the pitch is to be part of a pilot program to help improve childcare. He said the New York Federal Reserve is funding the project, which is being organized by a national group.
“And develop not only capacity in childcare, but how do we help the childcare facilities structure their curriculum so that it’s truly early childhood education,” Farley said. “And we’re strengthening the families, but we’re also making sure those children are getting the foundation so when they start Pre-K and Kindergarten, they are where they need to be.”
This project is also not funded, as the pitch will not be presented for a couple of more weeks.
Farley presented the United Way’s ALICE Report, which shows Tennessee’s averages for living wages, or the needed income to cover the bills and save some money. Farley said living wages for a single adult is some 30,000, and the number for senior citizens is $33,000.
Farley said many seniors do not have an income of $33,000. He said that has driven demand for senior assistance programs, and the need is not going away anytime soon.
Farley said a family of two adults, an infant, and a pre-schooler need some $75,000 a year to bring in a living wage. For families under this threshold, the best way to improve their standing is to improve income. Farley said the new programs are meant to set up families for financial success.
“You can’t save your way out of poverty,” Farley said. “That can’t happen. You’ve got to earn more, and we’re seeing that happen with these families. It’s all about earning more wages, and getting that revenue stream increased.”
Farley said UCHRA can not do the work it does without partnerships, and encouraged attendees to be in touch with their local nonprofits about potential avenues for a UCHRA partnership.
