The United Way of Jackson County is interested in partnering with MCUL and its members to increase financial stability among Michigan’s low-income residents. For the past few years, the United Way of Jackson County has worked with Consumers Energy to enroll qualifying households into its Affordable Payment Plan; it has also encouraged enrollees to take advantage of additional resources in their communities that help build financial stability, such as financial coaching programs.
This year, the state is shifting its utility assistance programming to focus more on building financial stability for its program enrollees. The low-income population served by utility assistance programs often have challenges accessing additional resources due to a variety of reasons (lack of knowledge on where the programming is offered, lack of transportation, classes offered at times that conflict with their work schedules, etc.); United Way of Jackson County hopes to build a network of local partners across the state that can offer services in-person and via other technology (video-conferencing, webinars, etc.). Ideally, enrollees would be connected directly with a credit union serving their community, and perhaps even provided with the minimum amount necessary to establish an account with your Credit Union as an incentive for doing so.
Please take a few minutes to answer this very brief survey. United Way of Jackson County needs your response by Friday, July 20 in order to prepare its grant application for this program.