Serving more than 1,800 individuals at mid-year 2017, local nonprofit United Way of San Juan County (UWSJC) is seeing an increase in the number of people struggling to make ends meet in the San Juans.

United Way of San Juan County currently funds 14 local schools and nonprofits working in health, education and income stability. Like UWSJC, these schools and nonprofits are dedicated to improving the skills, wellbeing and independence of people in the community who may be going through tough times, and for the community as a whole.

According to United Way’s 2014 ALICE report, almost 5,000 people struggle to survive on insufficient income in San Juan County – a full one-third of the islands’ population.

In July 2017, UWSJC-supported community organizations reported some of the day-to-day effects of the loss of affordable rental units, homelessness and the need for more food donations to four community food banks. They discussed the county’s workforce shortage, child poverty, the increase in requests for hospice care and equipment and more.

As one nonprofit director noted, “I am seeing our families working more, but still not making enough money to afford the basic necessities, including childcare. Many of these families struggle just to pay for housing and food.”

The number of people struggling to live here is on the rise, and UWSJC is working with community partners to reverse this trend. To learn more, visit sjunitedway.org. United Way of San Juan County will have a booth at the San Juan County Fair.