Press Releases
US Department of Agriculture Grants United Ways of California $42 Million To Address Economic Inequities Faced by California Farmworkers
October 2022
In partnership with 16 local United Ways, United Ways of California is honored to announce they have been awarded a $42 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture to provide economic relief to farmworkers and their families. This is the largest award in the organization’s 14-year history. United Ways of California is one of 15 organizations nationwide to receive funding.
According to the USDA, “Organizations were selected for their proven track records working with farmworkers, meatpacking workers, and front-line grocery workers, their strong partnerships with worker-serving organizations, and their ability to provide services in critical geographic areas to collectively ensure nationwide coverage under this program.” Funds from this grant will be used to provide economic relief to farmworkers who incurred pandemic-related health and safety costs.
“According to our Real Cost Measure study, an estimated 3.5 million households in California struggle to make ends meet, and 97% have at least one working adult, so what we are seeing is that hardworking families living in the golden state aren’t making enough in basic wages to get by,” shares United Ways of California President and CEO, Pete Manzo. “United Ways across California are determined to help bridge the financial gaps many households are experiencing in today’s economic climate. This grant from the USDA helps us continue to address existing inequities and alleviate some of the financial burden California farmworkers are facing by providing cash support to households struggling across our state.”
Governor Signs Transformational Budget; Increases Historic Investment in Community Schools
Advocates praise Governor Newsom and the Legislature for additional funding for Community Schools, building on last year’s historic investment
(Sacramento, CA) - United Ways of California and the Children’s Defense Fund - California applaud the Governor and Legislators for agreeing to invest an additional $1.1 billion in funding for Community Schools in the Fiscal Year 2023-24. This budget agreement is a testament to the shared commitment of the Newsom Administration and the Legislature to build out a more holistic approach to address decades of inequities and help support students and families.
As organizations that have advocated for their creation and funding for years, United Ways of California and Children’s Defense Fund-California know that the California Community Schools Program is a historic initiative by our state to provide more than just a pathway to graduation for our children and youth. It is an opportunity to build healthy families and reshape communities that have been decimated by racism, policing, poverty, and the COVID-19 Pandemic.
We know that Community Schools are designed to provide precisely the kind of programming and services our children, youth, and parents need right now to reduce gun violence, unemployment, suicide, domestic violence, houselessness, and food insecurity. Instead of being punished for problems outside their control, students and families will receive tools and resources to support them. Community Schools will fundamentally reshape and improve health, education, and social service delivery for hundreds of thousands of California children and their families.
Statement by Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California Regarding Governor Newsom's 2022 May Revise Budget Proposal
Governor Newsom's proposed May Focuses Economic Relief for Car Owners; United Ways of California Urges Targeted Child Tax Credits, Relief, for Struggling Families, and 2-1-1 System Services
United Ways of California supports the financial scope of the Governor’s proposed May Revise investments, however, notes that relief that does not target families that are struggling the most to get by misses a critical opportunity to invest in data-driven interventions.
(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO of the United Ways of California, (UWCA) regarding Governor Newsom’s proposed May Revise budget:
With California’s current revenue surplus exceeding $97 billion, Governor Newsom has an incredible opportunity to work with the California State Legislature to make targeted investment in what we know works to uplift California families, struggling with the rising cost of living. While we agree with the Governor that the economic realities so many Californians face require robust investments, we differ somewhat on the approach. We support the proposed $2.7 billion investment in rental relief and $1.4 billion proposed for helping Californians address past due utilities, as it is imperative that we keep as many families safely housed as possible. However, we also urge a refocusing of at least a portion of the $11.5 billion for car owners to instead be used via proven pathways for targeted assistance, drawing from our state’s experience with the Golden State Stimulus, California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), and Young Child Tax Credit. These credits hit the sweet spot - they are the most targeted and effective way to reduce poverty, help families deal with inflation, boost local economies, and improve lifelong results for children.
Statement by Peter Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California Regarding Governor Newsom's January 2022 Budget Proposal
Governor Newsom’s Proposed January 2022 Budget Invests in Immediate COVID-19 Response and Robust Long-term Economic Recovery; United Ways of California Urges Focus on Tax Credit Equity and 2-1-1 System Services
United Ways of California applauds the Governor’s proposed substantial investments in public health, homelessness services, and youth-focused tax credits. With a $31 billion surplus, there are opportunities to make additional investments in equitable access to earned income tax credits and the 2-1-1 system as a critical statewide health and human services resource.
(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO of the United Ways of California, (UWCA) regarding Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2022-2023 state budget:
It is encouraging to see so many of our shared values and priorities addressed in the Governor’s January Budget Proposal. With California’s current revenue surplus exceeding $31 billion, and a total state budget of $286.4 billion, we look forward to advocating for a balanced, equitable budget alongside fellow community-based organizations and our elected officials.
We are very supportive of the Governor’s prioritization of $2.7 billion for vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, as well as funding for medical surge staffing at hospitals and local public health jurisdictions. Addressing our public health crisis and the economic fallout that has been ravaging our state for two years is of critical importance. In that context, we are also especially pleased to see a concrete plan to implement “Health4All,” a first-in-the-nation investment to make sure all immigrant residents are eligible for Medi-Cal by expanding coverage to the last segment of ineligible undocumented residents, 26 to 49-year-olds. The United Way network in California has been a strong proponent of equitable access to health care for over a decade and we are thrilled to see this community-based advocacy effort result be realized.
House Ways & Means Committee to Continue Federal Child Tax Credit Expansions through 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 916-317-4997
House bill to increase child tax credit by over $1000 for many struggling families, including immigrants, among other expansions, successfully passes committee.
SACRAMENTO-- After months of deliberation, the House Ways & Means Committee has cast their final votes to maintain Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansions through 2025.
"We applaud the actions taken by the Senate to strengthen the Child Tax Credit and EITC, and we urge the full inclusion of the Ways and Means language in the final budget reconciliation package,” said Pete Manzo, President & CEO for United Ways of California (UWCA).“We know that over half of households with young children struggle to make ends meet according to our Real Cost Measure study. The first round of payments from the newly expanded CTC alone moved 3 million children above the poverty line, and extending that impact for years to come is a huge win for low-income children and their families.”
New United Way Study Finds Nearly 1 in 3 Households in California Struggle to Meet Basic Needs
Contact:
Beylah Marks
United Ways of California
bmarks@unitedwaysca.org
(408) 718-6274
Nearly one in three California families are struggling to cover their daily needs, according to a new study released by United Ways of California that defines which families struggle financially in California more accurately than the federal poverty level, and demonstrates that the current policy debates around child care, housing costs, and family tax credits are more urgent than ever.
The study, Struggling to Move Up: The Real Cost Measure in California 2021, finds that the share of families that struggle financially is 2.5 times higher in California than what is factored in the federal government’s measure. It amounts to 3.5 million families who are unable to meet basic needs — a situation affecting Latino and Black households at much higher rates than other communities. The federal government uses an outdated formula for calculating poverty — one that fails to take into account how much rent, transportation, healthcare, and other basic needs cost in California.
Record High Investments in Financial Relief for Most Californians, but Equitable Economic Recovery for Households Excluded from Relief Still Unclear
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 916-317-4997
Cadonna Dory, Director of Communications
Children’s Defense Fund-CA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 323-385-6342
Advocates call for targeted assistance for Californians who have been excluded from federal stimulus, building on the state’s investments in the CalEITC and Golden State Stimulus
(Sacramento, CA) — For months, the California Legislature has been debating and voting on a wide range of budget investments and so far there have been some truly incredible measures taken to invest in the financial security of California’s most vulnerable communities. Advocates from the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Coalition praise the actions taken this year to shore up households that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis, but note that more targeted, equity-based investments are still needed.
The CalEITC is one of the state’s most powerful tools to combat poverty and it is critically important for the state to invest in its growth. This is why advocates championed SB 691 (Rubio) which would have provided an additional $100 in CalEITC benefits for people who use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) and reducing the income eligibility for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) from $1 to $0 to avoid bureaucratic hurdles for this population. Funding to expand these credits is not included in the budget deal outlined by the Legislature today, and remains a critical issue for low-income households, not only to recover from the pandemic’s economic hardships, but also as ongoing equity measures for families.
United Ways of California Praises Inclusion of CalEITC Outreach and Free Tax Preparation Assistance Funding in Legislature’s Budget, Urges Governor Newsom’s Approval
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 916-317-4997
(Sacramento, CA) - California legislators approved a $15 million investment in CalEITC Outreach and Free Tax Preparation Assistance (FTPA) to leverage one of our state’s most powerful poverty-fighting tools, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). United Ways of California enthusiastically applauds this action and urges Governor Newsom to approve this funding in the final budget agreement.
This investment in outreach and free tax filing assistance comes after weeks of intense deliberation by the Senate and Assembly and months of advocates pushing for targeted investments to ensure more households are aware of and can get help filing their taxes to claim these credits. This funding will emphasize reaching and assisting California’s immigrant and underserved communities, who have been hit especially hard during the economic crisis brought forth by COVID-19. This decision redresses a failure to fund free tax filing assistance in last year’s budget, and in addition, it calls for this funding to be “ongoing,” which would remove uncertainty about the continuation of the program. The $15 million in ongoing annual funding will be allocated for CalEITC Outreach and FTPA grants to qualified community partners.
California Legislature Adopts Healthy Start Framework for Historic $2 Billion Investment in Community Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
CONTACT
Anna Hasselblad, Public Policy Director
United Ways of California
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 877.355.8922 x15
(Sacramento, Calif.) - Yesterday, both the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees agreed to build on lessons learned from California’s successful Healthy Start program, an integrated model for supporting children in receiving the services they need to thrive through local school-community collaboratives. The Healthy Start program provided grants to schools to develop wrap-around services, yielding dramatic results for children in increased reading and math scores, reduced substance use, and higher graduation rates, from its inception in 1991 until the latter part of 2007-2008, when it was ultimately defunded as a result of the Great Recession and its economic pressures. The Healthy Start program led to the development of similar models, such as community schools, across the state. Now, the Healthy Start framework will be the foundation for the Governor's historic $2 billion proposal for a Community Schools Partnership Program that will transform how child and family-serving systems work together to support healthy development.
Governor Announces a Second Round of Golden State Stimulus in May Revision Preview
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 10, 2021
Contact:
Anna Hasselblad
Public Policy Director, United Ways of California
916 317 4997
Advocates come together to praise this move, outline a bold and equitable proposal to build on the Administration’s May Revision, and craft a vision for inclusive economic hardship relief
[Los Angeles, Calif.] - California is facing record budget revenues and Governor Newsom’s proposal today to expand the Golden State Stimulus makes powerful use of a portion of this windfall. Advocates from the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Coalition are heartened by the May Revision proposal, knowing that this is a starting point for negotiations within the Legislature. The CalEITC Coalition looks forward to working with legislators and the Governor to ensure those most impacted by the pandemic are equitably supported and that our community voice is heard throughout this process.
A Moment for Sober Reflection and a Recommitment to Equal Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2021
CONTACT
Pete Manzo
President & CEO
877 355 8922 x2
United Ways of California, issued this statement regarding the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, convicted of murder in the killing of George Floyd.
We hope the guilty verdict handed down today provides some measure of justice and peace for Mr. Floyd and his family. What is left after the verdict in Minneapolis is a nation still reeling from the seemingly unrelenting occurrence of killings by police of unarmed individuals, disproportionately people of color, and stark disparities in administration of justice based on race, ethnicity and class.
Statement From United Ways on Golden State Stimulus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Contact:
Peter Manzo (323) 309-8522
Anna Hasselblad (916) 317-4997
Golden State Stimulus, Eviction Protections, and Rent Relief Urgency Budget Proposal Announced by Governor Newsom with Legislative and United Way Leaders
The stimulus will reach low-income Californians, including undocumented households that file taxes with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number; local leaders note urgency and readiness to connect families to relief
(Los Angeles, CA) — Statement from United Ways of California and Local United Way Leaders:
“Today marks a critical moment in California’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic with Governor Newsom’s Budget Proposal to provide a much needed $600 state stimulus check to low-income residents via the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) structure. This combined with extending eviction protections and providing rent relief funds comes at the right time as so many households struggle to stay afloat financially,” said Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California, (UWCA). “Local United Ways throughout California are on the frontlines of connecting communities to services and assistance, raising and disbursing millions of dollars in 2020 alone to help tens of thousands of families grappling with the devastating impacts of COVID-19. 2021 will require a similar commitment to getting aid where it is needed most, and we are ready to partner closely with the Legislature and the Newsom Administration to see this budget proposal through with urgency.”
Urgent Action Required as Number of California Children Without Healthcare Coverage Skyrockets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Contact: Unai Montes, 213-476-8742, (Bilingual) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
California United Ways Sound the Alarm as the Percentage of Children Without Healthcare Coverage in California Continues to Rise
Despite Medi-Cal Expansion and Investments in Covered California the Number of California Children Without Health Care Coverage Has Ballooned by 11 Percent
(Los Angeles, CA) – According to a new report released by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, at least 334,000 California children lacked healthcare coverage in 2019. The number of Americans without health insurance has risen, writ large, since 2016. Yet, Georgetown’s reports confirm the worst fears of California United Ways, and the many anti-poverty and child welfare organizations that joined together to draft, pass, and implement Covering All Children, and Health 4 All Kids, policies less than a decade ago. After making tremendous inroads, and achieving coverage for 95% of California’s children, the percentage of California children without health insurance rose steeply, by approximately 11 percent, between 2016 and 2019. Experts agree that federal actions, such as the change to the public charge rule, are influencing caregivers to either not enroll newly eligible children, and to disenroll, or not-renew coverage for, children already enrolled in publicly subsidized healthcare plans.
United Ways of California Champions Voting Rights Through Statement of Principles and Text VOTE to 211 211 Campaign to Empower Eligible Voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
CONTACT: Unai Montes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 213.476.8742
United Way Affirms Voting as a Bedrock of Our Democracy and Means for Achieving the Common Good, and Urges All Those Who Are Eligible to Text VOTE to 211-211
Excerpt from statement by United Ways of California’s President and CEO, Peter Manzo:
[Los Angeles, CA] – United Way mobilizes the caring power of communities for the common good. Today, our role is even more critical than ever. We know that it takes engaged citizens, working in good faith, from all sectors – community, business, labor, government and charitable – to improve the quality of life in our communities. This is why we are committed to expanding participation in our democracy. There is a deep connection between participating in community life and voting. Voting is how we express our hopes and dreams for our shared future. It is also the most fundamental right for all American citizens, upon which all other rights and liberties depend.
That is why ahead of the 2020 General Election, we launched Text VOTE to 211-211, a campaign to provide voters in the Golden State – accessible to voters all across the country – the verified information and accessible resources they need to safely cast their ballots, and have their voices heard. Our mission to fight for the education, health, and financial stability of every person in every community, and the fight to protect the voting rights of every eligible voter in every community, are as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asserted, “interrelated, and tied in a single garment of destiny.”
Governor Newsom Makes History By Making Immigrant Workers and their Families Eligible for the State's Anti-Poverty Tax Credits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 18, 2020
CONTACT:
Unai Montes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 213 476 8742 (Bilingual)
California United Ways and Statewide CalEITC Coalition Laud Governor Newsom’s Expansion of the State's Earned Income and Young Child Tax Credits to All Californians Who File Taxes, Not Just Those With Social Security Numbers
[Sacramento, Calif.] – The California Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, made up of over 60 anti-poverty, immigrant rights, and community-based organizations, applauds Governor Gavin Newsom’s historic decision to sign AB 1876 (Arambula AD-31) into law. Both non-citizen immigrant households, as well as mixed-status families in which one tax filer has a Social Security Number while the other does not, will directly benefit from the expansion of California’s anti-poverty tax credits.
Governor Newsom’s elimination of the arbitrary exclusion of Californians who file their taxes with a federally-issued Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) from the up to $2,982 California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) Tax Credit, and the up to $1,000 Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) is historic. California is only the second state in the country to take action to address this inequity.
The CalEITC, including the YCTC, is one of the most powerful, immediate, and critical tools that the state has to help lift families out of poverty. Yet for several years, those who file their taxes with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) have been left out. Including ITIN filers in the CalEITC and YCTC will provide critical support to over 600,000 individuals, including over 200,000 children, and will target resources most effectively while reducing inequality, stimulating the economy, and counterbalancing recessionary impacts that hit immigrant communities and communities of color the hardest.
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