United Way Of Massachusetts Bay Inc

EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME LEADING CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION - Closing Achievement Gaps THE CHALLENGE - Students in Massachusetts face barriers that extend beyond the classroom. Chronic absenteeism is again on the rise, with 29% of low-income students missing more than 10 percent of school in 2025. In some districts like Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, and Lowell, the rates of absenteeism are as high as 20-30%. OUR APPROACH - Systems Leadership Through Community Schools United Way brings together people and partners across sectors to close achievement gaps and strengthen support for the whole child. We convene educators, families, nonprofit partners, and policymakers to align resources, integrate services, and create school-centered ecosystems of support. OUR RESPONSE & RESULTS United Way is expanding the Community Schools strategy across Massachusetts, turning schools into hubs that link families, schools, and local resources to support the whole child: - In the 24 community schools funded across Boston, Lynn, and Haverhill, chronic absenteeism decreased by an average of 3.95%. - Six community schools successfully exited DESE turnaround status, including Lowell's Bartlett, Butler, Moody, and Greenhalge schools, and Lynn's Ford and Washington schools. - Community partnerships raised $300,000 in monetary and in-kind donations for two United Way-supported schools in Haverhill. - The Massachusetts Coalition for Community Schools, led by United Way, is advocating to scale the model statewide. INVESTING IN AGENCIES - Making Childcare & After-School Programs Affordable and Accessible THE CHALLENGE - Massachusetts has some of the highest childcare costs in the country. High-quality early education remains inaccessible to families with the greatest need: Only 43% of low-income children are enrolled in preschool, and just 25% of Boston's school-age children participate in summer learning programs. OUR APPROACH - Strategic Investment to Scale What Works Investing in community-based organizations is one of United Way's core levers for advancing systemic impact. We deploy funding strategically to strengthen high-performing providers, expand proven models, and build regional capacity. United Way also drives statewide solutions to make early education and after-school programs accessible and affordable. OUR RESPONSE & RESULTS - Advanced a sustainable business model for family childcare entrepreneurs through Shared Services MA, training and licensing 62 educators, creating 372 new childcare slots, and expanding culturally responsive care in the Merrimack Valley. - Deployed state funding and resources to expand summer learning and after-school programs through the Summer Step Up program, reaching 1,863 children in partnership with 53 organizations across 28 communities. - Mobilized capital and expertise to strengthen 66 early education community-based partners across the region, providing thousands of young children with high-quality learning environments to address gaps in access and affordability.

SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING THE CHALLENGE - Skyrocketing housing prices are impacting everyone, exacerbating homelessness and making it harder for families to find and remain in affordable housing. Nearly one in five households statewide spend 50% or more of their income on housing, and the Commonwealth estimates 200,000 units are needed to meet the demand for affordable and supportive housing in Massachusetts. OUR APPROACH - Strengthening the Housing Ecosystem United Way is committed to expanding affordable and supportive housing, strengthening frontline organizations, and advancing policies that help families achieve long-term stability. OUR RESPONSE & RESULTS - Co-lead the Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition, a statewide network of 80+ advocates, developers, service providers, and policy organizations, working to expand supportive housing and advance coordinated homelessness prevention and housing stability policies. - The Affordable Homes Act was signed, authorizing $5.16 billion for housing over five years and creating the Supportive Housing Pool Fund, championed by United Way of Massachusetts Bay, a new resource to streamline and expand housing-plus-services for individuals, families, youth, and young adults at risk of homelessness. - Strengthened the supportive housing pipeline by strategically investing in 30+ community-based partners building and advocating for affordable and supportive housing.