Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive. United Way invests in programs providing educational opportunities that help children cultivate new skills and prepare them for a lifetime of success. Action is needed now to ensure that federal investments in Head Start are protected as Congress negotiates the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Without federal funding, over 750,000 children could lose access to these critical services and hundreds of thousands of parents and caregivers may not be able to go to work to support their families.  This is particularly true in rural communities where Head Start programs may be the only available child care option.
 

Advocate for Youth Opportunities  

For the last three decades, AmeriCorps members have responded to our country’s most immediate and critical needs. They are the “people power” that local nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations rely on to deliver services and make a difference in local communities. While helping others, AmeriCorps members gain in-demand job skills and complete their service with increased employability and pathways to higher education, preparing a cohort of Americans to succeed in the workforce.  

Advocate for Americorps  

Enacted with bipartisan support in 2014, WIOA authorizes federal employment, workforce and training programs and formula funding to states and local governments. WIOA helps communities tackle and overcome challenges facing job seekers and employers. Ask your Member of Congress to support the bill that rejects the proposed consolidation and maintains funding to help ensure local communities have the resources and flexibility to meet the skills development needs of workers, job seekers, and local employers.  

Advocate for WIOA  

The federal nutrition program WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), as an important safeguard for protecting and improving the health and nutrition of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers, and children under five.  Ask your Member of Congress to oppose proposed cuts and to support the bipartisan bill that funds WIC. 

Advocate for WIC  

For 50+ years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has provided free tax preparation to low- to moderate-income households (earning less than $67K in 2024). The success of VITA -- which includes United Way’s My Free Taxes -- is unmatched. In 2023, more than 3,800 VITA sites prepared 1.3M tax returns, which generated $1.9B in refunds to households with low and moderate incomes. Ask your Member of Congress to support the VITA program. 

Advocate for VITA  

One out of six families are behind on their home energy bills, owing a total of $21 billion up 30 percent since 2023. Ask your Member of Congress to support the funding for the federal Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) so the most vulnerable can pay their bills, remain safe, and stay warm/cool in their homes. 

Advocate for LIHEAP  

The FY26 Budget Request proposes a 44 percent cut to vital housing, homelessness, and community development programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These proposed cuts come as rising housing costs have placed a considerable strain on Americans across the country and a record number of Americans are now experiencing homelessness. Housing assistance referrals through 211, the 24-7 link to local resources, continue to increase--nearly doubling since pre-COVID. Ask your Member of Congress to support the bill that increases funding for HUD’s rental and homelessness assistance programs.   

Advocate for housing assistance  

The Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program awards grants to school districts, community-based partnerships, and state education agencies to transform schools into hubs of opportunity and support. Today, an estimated 8-10K Community Schools serve rural, suburban, and urban communities nationwide. Ask your Member of Congress to support the bill that maintains funding for FSCS to support communities.  

Advocate for community schools  

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is a federally funded program that offers financial assistance to organizations helping people experiencing or at risk of homelessness or hunger. EFSP plays a key role in combating hunger and homelessness across rural, urban, and suburban communities. Ask your Member of Congress to oppose the proposed elimination of EFSP. and maintain at least enacted funding levels for EFSP to combat hunger and homelessness.  

Advocate for Food and Shelter  

For 25+ years, learning centers have helped students – many of whom are from underserved communities – learn and grow while allowing their parents to work and contribute to the local economy. Students enrolled in these afterschool and summer programs are more engaged in learning, have improved GPAs and test scores, and fewer absences and in-school suspensions. Ask your Member of Congress to support maintaining these funding levels. 

Advocate for students