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reality check
Traditional measures of poverty do not capture the magnitude of people who are struggling financially. Reality Check is a series that makes the invisible visible by shining a light on the true number of families struggling in Greater Houston.
Access to early education, affordable housing, financial education and coaching, job training, and health care can help to break the cycle of living hand to mouth.
This series explores how we as a community can make this a reality.
Episode 11: Navigators and the Integrated Client Journey
In episode 11 of Reality Check, we explore Navigators and the Integrated Client Journey, two key elements of the new strategy United Way of Greater Houston launched in 2022.
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Episode 10: Bright Beginnings
In episode 10 of Reality Check, we explore early childhood education in our community, its importance, and how United Way Bright Beginnings works to improve child care quality and prepare children for success in school and in life.
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Episode 9: Affordable Housing
Stable and affordable housing is a cornerstone of financial stability. In episode 9 of Reality Check, we look at how the pandemic and inflation have made it tougher for families to secure stable and affordable housing and how that impacts nearly every other aspect of someone's life.
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Episode 8: Accessing Better Jobs
In episode 8 of Reality Check, we look at what it takes for families experiencing ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) to elevate themselves out of low-paying jobs and into careers that can help build financial security for the future.
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Episode 7: Financial Stability
Financial Security for families experiencing ALICE is largely dependent on access to and the costs of basic necessities such as housing and food. In Episode 7, we discuss the situation families find themselves in when financially struggling and what resources could most benefit families.
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Episode 6: The Effects of Poor Mental Health
In Episode 6 of Reality Check, we explore some of the situational factors that can lead to diminishing mental health and how those scenarios can further push a family deeper into a cycle of poverty and duress.
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Episode 5: The True Cost of Good Health
In episode 5 of Reality Check, we explore the many challenges of navigating the health care system and what we as a community can do to help ensure working families aren’t having to make life-or-death decisions based solely on their income.
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Episode 4: The Impact of Out-of-School Time
With a majority of a child’s waking hours spent outside of the classroom, what happens before and after school plays a big role in a child’s development.
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Episode 3: The Importance of Early Education
Data clearly shows that children who receive early, quality education, outperform those who do not. Yet, access to affordable child care is a challenge for many, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck.
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Episode 2: The COVID-19 Constrain
Episode 2 of Reality Check examines how families struggling financially have had to make incredibly tough decisions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Episode 1: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
Experts talk about the reality many Greater Houston families face as they work to raise their kids, gain financial stability, and build better futures.
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