United Way of East Central Iowa Letter of Intent: Financial Stability Focus Area FY 2015- FY2017 Date:

Submission of this letter indicates an organization is interested in full participation in the United Way of East Central Iowa FY2018 – FY2020 funding and would like to be considered to submit an application for the Community Partner Fund.

Directions: Based on your understanding of the Community Partner Fund, please complete this form and submit to United Way office by Noon on Friday, October 21st, 2016.

Organization Name:
Address:
City, State Zip code:
Organization is an IRS 501(c) (3) not-for-profit? Yes No	Forecasted Request Amount: $ (per year)
Name of Executive Director:	Phone:	E-mail:
Contact for this Letter of Intent:	Phone:	E-mail:

Agency Guidelines Compliance _

You will be requested to adhere to the Partner Agency Standards & Fundraising Guidelines these standards and guidelines should funding be granted.

Statement of Compliance

I have read and agree to comply with United Way of East Central Iowa’s Partner Agency Guidelines as outlined within the following link: http://www.uweci.org/what-we-do/our-partners/partner-resources/

Signature of Executive Director: ____________________________________________

A signed Letter of Intent and completed Agency Profile must be received by e-mail (scanned PDF file) by

Noon on Friday, October 21st, 2016 and sent via e-mail communitybuilding@uweci.org

Proposed Strategy

Name of proposed strategy (Limited to 40 characters including spaces. Do not include the name of the focus area within the proposed strategy name. Example of a strategy name: Connecting to Kids)

Please provide a brief description of the proposed strategy including primary activities/services that will be provided, target population that will be impacted and proposed, unduplicated # of persons served. (Please limit description to 500 words.)

What intermediate outcome(s) will you focus on? Please select one or more from the list provided below:

Review the list of priority intermediate outcomes (on the next page) and select the outputs and indicators that best align with your proposed strategy. Please provide the following information on how you will measure your performance:

Outputs you will measure

Indicators you will measure

How long have you been measuring the above proposed outputs and indicator measurements?

List tool(s) you will be using to achieve indicator measurements:

Intermediate Outcome(s)

Directions: Please select the Intermediate Outcome(s) to which your strategy aligns and include in your answer to question 3. You must select at least one output and at least one indicator and include in your answer to question 4. If you are proposing a measurement that is not listed, preference will be made for evidence-based tools.

Intermediate Outcome 1: BASIC NEEDS

Low-income households utilize safety net systems that support basic needs.

Types of activities that will be considered for funding:

Food

Strategies that build capacity for the food system to increase food insecure households access to sufficient quantities of nutritious foods.

Strategies that target specific populations in partnership with other services, to help families’ access supplemental food as they stabilize, develop workforce skills and obtain employment.

Education that helps households meet their nutritional needs. This includes, but is not limited to, how to feed a family on a low budget or mixed resources (SNAP, garden, food pantry, etc), how to grow your own food, and how to prepare foods.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) outreach, education, screening and enrollment.

Housing

Strategies that build capacity for a well-coordinated housing system of care. This includes, but is not limited to coordinated assessment (an integrated, system-wide “front door” to the homeless assistance system) and system evaluation that aligns with the federal strategic plan and HEARTH Act measures.

Strategies that reduce the # of people entering the homeless assistance system and the demand for shelter and other programmatic housing beds. Activities may include, but are not limited to:

Intentional outreach to target populations and/or relationships with landlords and other providers that assist in reaching vulnerable families early and support the prevention of homelessness.

Homelessness prevention that assists households in preserving their current housing situation. Ideally this strategy would be linked with the communities coordinated assessment process.

Shelter diversion strategies that help households find housing outside of shelter while they receive services to stabilize their housing or help them move into permanent housing. Ideally this strategy would be linked with the communities coordinated assessment process.

Emergency shelter and transitional housing services that help families return to stable housing.

Rapid Re-housing services for individuals and/or families living on the streets or shelter that help individuals/families directly into permanent housing. Support service include, but are not limited to:

Service plans are individualized and focus on helping households find and keep housing.

Landlord outreach and housing search assistance

Connections to mainstream programs such as mental health services, substance abuse treatment, medical services, child care, etc.

Time limited financial assistance

Support services that assist low-income households in obtaining and maintaining stable housing. This may include the coordination of care among multiple providers.

Transportation

Rides to work, school, social service agencies, and errands for daily living.

Output Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# of meals served (by plate/individual)

# of households receiving take-home food assistance

Pounds of food distributed

# of individuals who receive homelessness prevention or shelter diversion services

Homelessness prevention defines a living situation where an individual or family is at-risk of becoming homeless and face imminent eviction and/or loss or denial of utilities or safe habitable housing. Prevention assistance can aid households in preserving their current housing situation.

Shelter diversion assists households in finding housing outside of shelter while they receive services to stabilize their housing or help them move into permanent housing.

# of households who receive homelessness prevention or shelter diversion services

Dollars in direct aid provided to households to prevent homelessness or to divert from shelter

# of individuals sheltered

# of households sheltered

# of nights of shelter provided to individuals

Dollars in direct aid provided to formerly homeless households to assist them in obtaining permanent housing (To include rent, deposit, mortgage, closing costs, essential utilities (gas, water, electric, phone, internet), energy and security-related repairs.

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Indicator Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# (%) of clients diverted from shelter or prevented from homelessness

Homelessness prevention defines a living situation where an individual or family is at-risk of becoming homeless and face imminent eviction and/or loss or denial of utilities or safe habitable housing. Prevention assistance can aid households in preserving their current housing situation.

Shelter diversion assists households in finding housing outside of shelter while they receive services to stabilize their housing or help them move into permanent housing.

# (%) of households who obtain permanent housing at program exit

Permanent Housing - Owned by client no housing subsidy, owned by client with housing subsidy, permanent housing formerly homeless, rental by client no housing subsidy, rental by client other housing subsidy, rental by client VASH-veterans subsidy, staying or living with family with permanent tenure, staying or living with friends with permanent tenure.

# (%) of households who maintain permanent housing three months post program exit

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Intermediate Outcome 2: STABILIZATION/ MANAGEABLE EXPENSES

Low-income working families’ access the supports needed to manage their expenses.

Types of activities that will be considered for funding:

Strategies that leverage collaborative relationships with state departments and/or local providers to maximize and coordinate resources around a defined target population. Priority will be given to proposals that provide continuity of care to households as they increase their income and lose eligibility for public benefits, however are not yet self-sufficient.

Public benefit outreach, education, screening and enrollment.

Strategies that provide subsidies that bridge the gap between public benefit eligibility and self-sufficiency. Subsidy programs could include, but are not limited to, supplemental nutrition assistance, child care, and energy assistance.

Financial empowerment strategies such as:

Money management skills that increase households ability to manage expenses and save

Connections to financial services such as mainstream bank accounts, credit counseling, and tax assistance

Connections to existing resources in the community that decrease household expenses.

Partnerships with Iowa WORKS and other workforce training providers that help individual’s access employment and training supports to secure employment.

Output Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# of households assisted with public benefit screening/application

# of households with income who access a subsidy that bridges the gap between public benefit eligibility and self-sufficiency

# of individuals assisted with obtaining employment

# of households who receive financial goal setting and budgeting support services

# of households referred to and who access certified credit counseling or financial legal advice services

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Indicator Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# (%) of households enrolled and receiving public benefits they are eligible for

(Examples- Medicaid, Medicare, SCHIP, WIC, SNAP, Child Care Assistance, Child support, SSDI, SSI, TANF, Section 8/public housing/rent assistance, Unemployment Insurance)

# (%) of individuals who obtained employment or supportive services that increased their net income. (New wage/salary is greater than last wage/salary earned)

# (%) of individuals retained in their employment or education/training program as a result of receiving a subsidy or support service

# (%) of individuals who increase their financial literacy/knowledge or skills

# (%) of households with a balanced budget

# (%) of households who access financial mainstream services

Mainstream- defined as a bank or credit union; a non-predatory lending institution

# (%) of households who set financial goals and make progress towards them

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Intermediate Outcome 3: WORKFORCE SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Low-income individuals acquire basic education, post-secondary training, and soft skills needed in the workforce.

Types of activities that will be considered for funding:

Increase enrollment and completion of adult basic education/literacy, training, certification, degree, and apprenticeship programs. Priority will be given to strategies that:

have established referral pipelines into the training program to reach target populations,

have clear strategy or partnerships in place to support individuals in continuing their progress towards financial stability,

align with industry demand and lead to a self-sustaining wage.

Strategies that support individuals in obtaining work experience such as job shadows, internships and on the job training.

Support services that help students navigate academic needs such as tutoring or social support needs such as child care, housing, transportation, etc. Priority will be given to proposals that provide comprehensive continuity of care to support retention and completion.

Output Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# of individuals participating in adult basic education or literacy services

# of individuals participating in an education/training service

# of individuals participating in work experience activities

Work experience defined as job shadow, internship, on the job training etc.

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Indicator Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# (%) of individuals who increase literacy or basic skill level

# (%) of individuals who earned a High School Equivalency/Diploma

# (%) of individuals who earned a short-term certificate

Short term certificate is defined as a standard set of technical or occupational skills developed or endorsed by local employer(s) or an industry.

# (%) of individuals who earned a 1 year diploma

# (%) of individual who earned a 2 year degree

# (%) of individuals who earned a credential

Credential defined as a national, state or locally recognized certificate or degree.

# (%) of individuals who pursue further training or obtained employment as a result of participating in work experience activities

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Intermediate Outcome 4: FAMILY SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT

Low-income families obtain and retain family supporting employment.

Types of activities that will be considered for funding:

Partnerships with local employers that align education and training programs with employers skill needs.

Soft skill development that supports the non-technical skills expected by local employers.

Employment services such as job searching techniques, interview etiquette, and resume writing.

Post employment supports such as work supports that help low and moderate-income individuals:

Maintain employment

Close the gap between their earnings and self-sufficiency

Strategies that help individuals advance in their careers such as mentoring.

Output Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

# of individuals who earned a credential who received employment search assistance.

# of individuals who earned a credential who obtain employment

# of individuals receiving one or more support services post training/during employment

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process

Indicator Measurement(s) your strategy will be reporting on:

Average wage of individuals at program entrance

Average wage of individuals at program exit

# (%) of individuals who earned a credential who obtain employment that increased their wage

# (%) of individuals who earned a credential who obtain employment that attain employee benefits (Health care, Vacation time, Sick time, etc)

# (%) of individuals who earned a credential and obtained employment who maintain employment for 90 days

# (%) of individuals who earned a credential and obtained employment who maintain employment for 9 months

# (%) of individuals who earn a credential and new employment wages increase the household income to 101-150% of the FPL.

# (%) of individuals who earn a credential and new employment wages increase the household income to 151-249% of the FPL.

# (%) of individuals who earn a credential and new employment wages increase the household income to more than 250% of the FPL.

Others as approved through the Letter of Intent process