It is essential that we as a community permanently reduce the poverty rate in Greenville County. There are serious obstacles that must be overcome. The availability of adult education and job training programs is key. Those with employment issues must become life-long learners and have adequate opportunities to learn new skills for constantly changing job environments and requirements.

The Issues

• 52,150 individuals) fell below the 2004 poverty rate of $18,850 for a family of four. That is up from 10.7% (41,033) in 2001. For ages 0 - 17, there are were 17,643 persons living below the poverty level.

• Twenty-six percent of single parent –female headed–households in Greenville County live in poverty.

• In Greenville County in 2005, one in 4.5 families in makes less than $25,000 annually, and 1 in 10 make less than $15,000.

• Twenty percent of Greenville County adults (ages 16+) fall into the lowest two levels of literacy, meaning their abilities range from functional illiteracy to possessing the ability to do only very simple and everyday literacy activities (National Assessment of Adult Literacy).

United Way Responds

• Over two years, United Way has significantly increased funding by over $450,000 for literacy services, employment training and case management, and affordable housing – both transitional and permanent.

• United Way invested a $75,000 grant to establish a housing trust fund in Greenville County to address critical housing needs, and create new partnerships to build long-term support for housing for low- income families.

• Last year, two United Way funded programs provided job training and education to 470 individuals to help them provide a better life for their families. 347 (75%) are still working six months later.

• Last year United Way-funded programs helped 231 individuals receive their GED or high school equivalency diploma.

2007-08 Community Impact Funding by Focus Area (.pdf)