University Area CDC Receives $100,000 United Way Grant to Help Transition Residents Out of Poverty

Forty families will directly benefit from a new University Area Community Development Corporation(UACDC) program, taking a holistic approach to transition them out of poverty. The STEPS for Success program launched Sept. 24 thanks to a recent grant from United Way Suncoast. The program uses three key planning tools: a Prescription for Prosperity, an Individualized Goal Plan and a Network of Support.

“United Way focuses on helping families find paths out of poverty,” said Emery Ivery, president of the Tampa Bay Area office of United Way Suncoast. “We work with community and corporate partners to create long-lasting change for families in need. The STEPS for Success approach is for the long term and we’re confident it can make a difference in the community.”

First STEPS is the initial phase of UACDC’s STEPS for Success program and is focused on core stabilization, which essentially resolves a crisis situation. In partnership with Crossover Church, the program creates an Individualized Stabilization Plan for each family in crisis using a psychological survey-based assessment tool and an Assessment Team made up of members who specialize in family enrichment and case management services. The program’s core elements include sustainability, training, education, planning and support.

“The University Area is home to one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Florida,” said UACDC CEO Dan Jurman. “It is blighted by extreme poverty, high unemployment, deterioration and illiteracy. The $100,000 grant from United Way will allow UACDC to launch this innovative program that will not just treat the symptoms of poverty, but focus on the core of the problem to end the vicious cycle.”

The families for STEPS for Success are identified and referred by the UACDC Partners Coalition, a 69-member group of nonprofit, government and private organizations who serve the University Area.

As a Community Equity Program, STEPS for Success participants are required to earn their way in the program through three key volunteer service requirements. Participants must volunteer 8 hours per month for a local nonprofit organization, serve as Network Peers and following their graduation, participants are encouraged to commit to no less than three years as a Network Peer or mentor.

The minimum program length for STEPS for Success is 18 months. Graduation occurs when a participant and their dependents have overcome their circumstances and have freed themselves from the cycle of poverty. This being the result of a new career, graduation from a trade school or an employment offer on the table.

More information about STEPS for Success can be found on UACDC’s website.

About UACDC
University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC) is a 501(c)(3) public/private partnership whose mission is children and family development, crime prevention, and commerce growth. Its primary focus is the redevelopment and sustainability of the at-risk areas surrounding the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida. The UACDC was named nonprofit of the year for public and societal benefit by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2011 and 2012. It is headquartered in the University Area Community Center Complex, owned by Hillsborough County and operated by the UACDC, which is located at 14013 North 22nd Street in Tampa. For more information about UACDC, please visit www.uacdc.org or call Dan Jurman at 813-558-5212 x208.

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