Stories and Videos

Reality Check

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.
Length: 3:00

Episode 1 – Longer Version

Experts talk about the reality many Greater Houston families face as they work to raise their kids, gain financial stability, and build better futures.
Length: 7:16

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.
Length: 3:00

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.
Length: 3:00

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.
Length: 3:00

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.
Length: 3:00

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.
Length: 3:00

Episode 7 – Financial Stability

Financial Security for ALICE families 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 ALICE families in Texas.
Length: 3:00

Episode 8 – Accessing Better Jobs

In episode 8 of Reality Check, we look at what it takes for ALICE families (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.
Length: 3:00

Episode 9 – Affordable Housing

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.
Length: 5:33

Episode 10 – Bright Beginnings

In episode 10, 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.
Length: 5:57

Episode 11 – Integrated Client Journey and Navigators

Navigators and an Integrated Client Journey are two key elements of the new strategy United Way of Greater Houston launched last year. Find out more about how they help our neighbors land on their feet—and stay there in Episode 11.
Length: 3:49

ALICE

Do You Know ALICE?

Brief introduction to ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed).
Length: 2:10

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