Building economic security
Lift United
WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST
Families struggling to make ends meet are often one flat tire or unexpected medical bill away from not being able to pay their rent that month.
38%
of Latinx children who live in poverty in Rhode Island (RI KIDS COUNT 2024 Factbook)
<40%
38.9% of Black RIers and 35.9% of Latinx RIers are homeowners compared to Whites (70.1%)
(United Health Foundation)
187,746
living in poverty as of 2022, at a poverty rate of 17.9% (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities)
11.2%
1 in 9 RIers live in poverty as of 2022
(EPI 2024 Standard of Need factbook)
337,000
RIers were poor or low-income between 2018-2020, at a poverty rate of 32%
(RI Poor People’s Campaign 2024 factsheet)
WHAT WE'RE DOING TO BUILD ECONOMIC SECURITY
Supporting adult education, job training, and businesses owned by women and minorities
We are advocating and investing to:
- Expand access to adult educations and job training programs, especially for multi-language learners.
- Ensure these programs train our neighbors for the livable wage jobs of tomorrow, as well as of today.
- Support the growth and stability of businesses owned by women and minorities in Rhode Island, which in turn will drive economic growth in our state.
Securing affordable housing for all
We are investing in and advocating for systems and programs that re-imagine housing so that it is safe and affordable for all who live in our state.
Investing in care coordination for 211 callers
When Rhode Islanders call 211, they are in crisis or one step away from a crisis. While continuing to connect the roughly 200,000 callers each year with the resources they need right away, we are developing a social service care coordination system so that 211 callers will have more comprehensive support and more streamlined access to the resources they need. Improved efficiencies in the social service sector with improved speed of access to services will improve health and wellbeing of Rhode Islanders. We’re starting this year by transforming our 211 technology.
Working towards our Lift United 2025 Goals
LIVE United 2025: Lift United
Building Economic Security
Through our Lift United pillar, we’re investing in affordable housing, improving care coordination, and expanding access to adult education and job training. We’re also supporting the growth and stability of women- and minority-owned businesses.
Goal: Employment
Reduce the number of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) who are underemployed or unemployed by 25%.
Source: Dept. of Labor and Training (2019)
Frequency: TBA
Housing is a fundamental human right and, today, too many Rhode Islanders are on the brink of homelessness
Goal: Affordable Housing
Reduce the number of Rhode Islanders who are housing cost burdened by 25%.
Key: Housing Cost Burdened
Percentage of Cost Burdened
Number of Cost Burdened
Source: HousingWorks RI Annual FactBook
Frequency: Annual
HOW YOU CAN HELP BUILD ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR ALL
Join us. That's what it means to "Live United." We can't do this alone.
Vote
Vote yes on 3 for the housing bond special election in February 2020.
Pledge
Sign our equity pledge to join us in eliminating policies that disadvantage Rhode Islanders of color.
Give
Donate today or through your employer’s annual giving campaign to support our efforts.
Volunteers Needed for “Day of Action” on June 7 to Help Prepare Donated Books for Distribution to Local Children
Providence, R.I. (May 27, 2025) – United Way of Rhode Island’s annual “Day of Action” is quickly approaching, and the organization is looking for additional volunteers to help prepare thousands of donated books for distribution to local children. The event is one of United Way’s largest volunteer-driven initiatives of the year to improve childhood literacy.
“Day of Action” will take place on Saturday, June 7, at United Way’s 50 Valley Street headquarters in Providence, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is a fun, family-friendly event and provides a great opportunity for individuals needing community service hours for school or professional development.
During “Day of Action,” volunteers will help with sorting, labeling, and packaging thousands of books collected during United Way’s recent Children’s Book Drive in partnership with Books Are Wings, whose mission is to put free books in the hands of kids. Thanks to the drive’s many partners, community drop-off locations, and collections organized by businesses, schools, and other groups, the effort has thus far collected more than 10,000 books.
Once the books are ready for their new homes, Books Are Wings will distribute them to children across Rhode Island through summer learning and afterschool programs.
Volunteers on “Day of Action” will receive United Way “UNITED IS THE WAY” t-shirts and refreshments, including a pizza lunch at 12:15 p.m. Families and children are welcome and encouraged to participate; those aged 16 and under must be accompanied and supervised by an adult.
If you would like to volunteer, or if you have questions, please contact Lori DiMatteo at Lori.DiMatteo@unitedwayri.org. Volunteers may also us this link to register.
Over the past decade, United Way’s Children’s Book Drive has provided more than 300,000 books to kids throughout the Ocean State.
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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. As a member of the world’s largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, business, nonprofit, community leaders and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and to drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
United Way of Rhode Island Statement on the House Budget Cuts
United is the Way— and that means standing up for every Rhode Islander.
At United Way of Rhode Island, we believe budgets are moral documents — they reveal what we truly value. The budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22 fails that test.
This federal budget proposal would devastate communities across our state. It includes sweeping cuts to programs that tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders rely on — putting healthcare, food assistance, housing, education, and veterans’ services at risk.
Slashing Medicaid funding and adding harsh work requirements would jeopardize care for more than 366,000 Rhode Islanders — including older adults, people with disabilities, and veterans who’ve earned better. Cuts to SNAP would force families to choose between food and rent. And new restrictions on services for homeless students and immigrant families betray our most basic commitments to dignity and fairness.
Every day, through 211, we hear the real stories behind the headlines — Rhode Islanders struggling to afford food, find housing, or access healthcare — and we’re here, answering the call, connecting them to the help they need.
By gutting funding for clean energy, stripping environmental protections, and attacking safety net services, this bill tears at the very foundation of strong communities.
Rhode Island should never be punished for choosing compassion — for expanding healthcare access, investing in sustainability, and protecting our neighbors. This isn’t just bad policy. It’s a betrayal of what we stand for.
Rhode Island deserves a budget that builds people up — not one that tears them down in the name of tax cuts.
It is critical that we advocate for the needs of our residents and take action that shows
United Is The Way. Because fairness and dignity, is critical to create a Rhode Island where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
📞 Call your U.S. Senators today and tell them you stand with them in standing up for the people of Rhode Island.
Senator Jack Reed: (401) 943-3100 https://www.reed.senate.gov/contact
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: (401) 453- 5294 https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/
Contact Jack | U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island
The Official U.S. Senate website of Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island
Statement from United Way of Rhode Island on the Election of Senate President Valarie Lawson
United Way of Rhode Island congratulates Senator Valarie Lawson on her election as Senate President. As an educator, labor leader, and dedicated public servant, President Lawson brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to equity, opportunity, and community engagement.
CCRI Partners with United Way to Open 211 Satellite Office on Warwick Campus
Warwick, RI – [April 28, 2025] – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has partnered with United Way of Rhode Island to establish a satellite 211 office on CCRI’s Warwick campus, expanding access to essential community resources for students. This collaboration underscores CCRI’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers to student success and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
United Way Accelerates $1.5 Million in Grant Payments to Support Rhode Island Nonprofits Amid Funding Uncertainty
Recognizing the urgency of the financial strain facing local nonprofits, United Way of Rhode Island is taking a major step to provide timely critical support to its funded partners. The organization has released more than $1.5 million in grant payments nearly three months ahead of schedule, delivering early disbursements to 41 nonprofits across the state.
United Way Hosts 13th Children’s Book Drive
United Way of Rhode Island’s Children’s Book Drive is back! In April and May, we’re teaming up with Books Are Wings to help Rhode Island children build their own libraries at home. Join us by buying and shipping books, dropping off books at one of our collection sites, or hosting a drive.
UPCOMING EVENTS
RI Young Professionals Statewide Summer Social
Join us for Rhode Island's re-vamped Young Professional Statewide Summer Social.
Co-hosted by United Way of Rhode Island's Emerging Leaders program, Millennial Rhode Island, and Southern Rhode Island Young Professionals, this is the largest young professionals networking event of the year and your chance to connect with your peers across companies, industries, and sectors.
When and Where?
Whaler's Brewing Co.
1174 Kingstown Road
South Kingstown, RI 02879
Wednesday, July 9th, 5:30pm-7:30pm
https://uwriweb.org/comm/SinglePageRegEvent.jsp?EventKeyHex=3136323132
Day of Action 2025
Day of Action is a worldwide United Way event, offering volunteer opportunities focused on the work of local United Way organizations. In Rhode Island, the Day of Action will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 9 AM - 1 PM to sort, label, and prepare the books for distribution to children in summer learning and afterschool programs.
To register, please click here: https://uwriweb.org/comm/SinglePageRegEvent.jsp?EventKeyHex=3135383931