An Arizona That Cares Starts With You.
Proposed budget cuts will eliminate vital services for the most vulnerable among us – children, elderly, homeless and the disabled. Valley of the Sun United Way needs your help as we advocate for a budget that protects people and programs at risk.
We support a State budget that accomplishes three things:
- Provides funding sufficient for families to maintain stability and for children and vulnerable populations to be protected.
- Maintains funding at a level that will maximize federal stimulus and ongoing federal matching funds.
- Explores additional revenue sources including tax increases and borrowing.
Our views on current budget proposals:
- The budget proposed by Governor Brewer minimizes cuts, protects services and most closely aligns with what we feel is a responsible budget.
- Legislative Budget S.B. 1188 contains deep cuts to Arizona Department of Health Services and Department of Economic Security and should not be approved
Valley of the Sun United Way encourages you to get involved in several ways:
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Find your legislator and tell them why this matters to you.
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Sign up to stay informed and share your voice. |
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Encourage others to be part of an Arizona that Cares.
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The time to help our neighbors in need is now! Please join Valley of the Sun United Way in speaking up for a responsible state budget.
SAM: Father’s Selfless Sacrifice Pushes Him to Homelessness
Currently, there are nearly 8,500 homeless men, women and children living on the streets in Maricopa County. For Sam this was much more than a local statistic – it was his daily reality.
A few years ago, Sam was a typical Arizona father, working hard and enjoying his home and life. Things were going great, but then his daughter urgently needed his assistance, and without hesitation, he selflessly put her needs before his own. As Sam cared for her and helped place her life back on track, he did not realize that he soon would also confront life changing circumstances – the loss of his job and home. Sam did the right thing as a father, but jeopardized his own future, and suddenly he was the one needing assistance. Sam’s life spun out of control and ultimately pushed him to living on the street.
Amid these turbulent times, Sam sought out, and then discovered, support to achieve increased stability through a campus for homeless individuals. There he found access to vital programs, which provided food, shelter, employment services, substance abuse counseling, housing assistance and more. Sam was able to become self sufficient, and through his hard work, earned a job as a supervising janitor at a local nonprofit. As his life became increasingly stable, Sam again reached out to support those around him. He regularly provided motivation and support to other individuals experiencing homelessness and those he supervised at the local nonprofit.
In today’s challenging economy, more individuals and families are on the brink of crisis as they lose their jobs and homes. Thousands of people, just like Sam, depend on local human care programs to find the support they need to achieve stability and pursue opportunities to positively impact our state. Many programs rely on crucial funding from government, nonprofit and private donors. Advocate for a responsible state budget – one that protects people like Sam, experiencing homelessness, and thousands of other vulnerable residents struggling to survive in Arizona.
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