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As the impacts of Covid-19 were felt across the Country, we depended on each other in countless ways.

The Need

In our four-county region, many of our friends and neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck – with 23.7% of total population in Bryan County, 25% in Chatham, 24.6% in Effingham, and almost 36% in Liberty County considered asset limited, income constrained, yet employed. As governments, schools, and businesses responded to public health recommendations to close or limit operations, many people lost their jobs and experienced extreme financial challenges.

The Response

United Way distributed 100% of the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund for families to retain stable housing and address essential needs as well as provided emergency funding to its partner agencies. The emergency relief fund allowed our organization to respond immediately to critical needs directly related to those adversely affected by the COVID 19 Pandemic.

For interested philanthropic and business partners, please contact Kim Tanner at 912.651.7716.

How the fund was used

United Way of the Coastal Empire raised and distributed nearly $700,000 in COVID Rapid Response Funds, helping close to 2,000 friends and neighbors in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties. The greatest needs met were housing and utilities.

To help bridge the technology gap that limits access to learning, we granted $54,000 to Savannah Chatham County Public School System and Effingham County School System to purchase Chromebooks for students in schools with the highest levels of poverty.

CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)

  • Through the management of $4,000,000 of CARES funds- UWCE, with the help of strong partner agencies helped more than 4,000 people remain in their homes through mortgage assistance, utility, and rental assistance distributed directly to utility companies, property managers, and mortgage companies, helping to fuel the local economy.  Countless families and individuals avoided imminent eviction, home foreclosure, and utility service disruption.


ERA (Emergency Rental Assistance)

  • Through the management of the ERA project on behalf of Chatham County, to date, more than 2,000 people have been helped with $3,000,000 in assistance to address citizens at risk of eviction, utility disruption and to help those in need of internet access, allowing remote work, remote education, and remote job training.  These funds are distributed directly to utility companies, property management, and leasing companies, further fueling the local economy.


In our four-county region, many of our friends and neighbors are living paycheck to paycheck – with 23.7% of the total population in Bryan County, 25% in Chatham, 24.6% in Effingham, and almost 36% in Liberty County considered asset limited, income constrained, yet employed (ALICE). As governments, schools, and businesses responded to public health recommendations to close or limit operations, many people lost their jobs and experienced extreme financial challenges.

211

211 is a free, confidential service provided by United Way of the Coastal Empire to ensure every person in the community has access to the best resources available.

Greatest Needs

  • Housing resources including eviction prevention, rental help, mortgage assistance
  • Utility assistance
  • Food
  • Employment

During the pandemic in 2020, 211 expanded to help meet the growing needs of the community.
  • Increase in call volume of nearly 400%
  • Averaged 1900 call attempts weekly
  • More than 5000 website searches for local resources each week
  • Regionally, our friends and neighbors reached out to our 211 call center more than 35,000 times in 2020

Covid-19 Stories

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