Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – United Way of Greater Charlottesville is introducing new initiatives aimed at supporting the area’s working-class residents through enhanced financial stability and transportation programs. Ella Jordan, Senior Financial Stability Director, joined Morning News to discuss these programs that are already making a difference. “What we do is bring the community together… and we want to offer services to our community that’s just not always available,” Jordan said.

One of the newly launched programs, Pathways to Prosperity, provides financial incentives for individuals seeking employment growth, certification training, or better-paying jobs. The program includes budgeting assistance and personal counseling. “We just launched it this past February, but our goal is to provide incentive, and especially financial incentives that you can continue to educate yourself if that’s what you want to do,” Jordan said.

Another key focus is transportation. United Way now offers a vehicle repair program and Lyft ride assistance for those whose jobs depend on reliable transportation. They also relaunched Driving Lives Forward, a partnership with CMA and Virginia National Bank, to help individuals secure affordable used vehicles. “Without transportation, it is hard to do much of anything around here,” Jordan emphasized. For more information, residents can visit https://unitedwaycville.org/. 

Listen to the full conversation here: