STORIES OF IMPACT

When Johnathan was offered a new job, he didn’t hesitate. He said yes.

As a single father, saying yes meant more than accepting a job—it meant creating a brighter future for himself and his children. Then reality set in.

Before he could earn his first paycheck, Johnathan needed enough gas to get his 2 children safely to childcare and himself to work. He also needed a pair of work shoes so he could walk through the door on his first day ready to succeed.

None of those barriers were permanent. But together, they were enough to keep him from getting started.

Through a referral to United Way of York County’s Barriers to Employment initiative, Johnathan connected with a Certified Financial Case Worker who helped navigate the immediate barriers. Today, through United Way’s Financial Stability Network, he’s building a plan that will help create long-term financial stability for himself and his family.

Johnathan found more than assistance—he found a community that believed he was worth investing in.

When Towanda Starr joined the Financial Stability Network pilot program in 2022, she had a clear dream: to one day purchase a home for her family. Step by step, she has worked tirelessly toward that goal, and the progress she has made is nothing short of inspiring.

Since entering the program, she started her own cleaning business and, at the same time, enrolled in college to pursue a degree in Business Administration. She currently holds straight A’s, has made the Dean’s List, and continues to balance school, work, and entrepreneurship with determination.

Her financial journey has been equally transformative. Mrs. Starr secured full-time employment while keeping her cleaning business for extra income. With discipline and focus, she paid off every collection debt and cleared her credit cards. She now manages her bills with ease and keeps her credit usage at or below 4% to keep building her score.

The results speak for themselves: when she began the program, her credit score was 600. Today, it stands at 759, a remarkable increase of 159 points. She has also built up her savings by setting aside tips from her cleaning clients, all with the goal of putting money toward her future home. Because of this commitment, she has already been pre-approved for a $200,000 mortgage.

Every milestone Mrs. Starr has achieved, including earning her spot on the Dean’s List, paying off debt, building savings, and raising her credit score, brings her closer to walking through the door of her first home.

Nadja, a kindergarten assistant at Oakdale Elementary, had childcare plans for her son so that she would be able to go back to school to finish her early childhood education.

However, those plans were shaken when her family member became ill. This left Nadja earnestly searching for childcare, but everywhere was either at capacity, too far from her home, or out of her budget.

Then, Nadja received a Childcare Scholarship from UWYC. This gave her the opportunity to work, save money, and go back to school to continue her early childhood education, knowing her child is being taken care of in a quality childcare center.

Now, she is on her way to reaching her goal of becoming a certified K-12 teacher. Through Rock Hill School’s partnership with North Greenville University, she has secured an internship in the Fall and will graduate in one year.

By removing the barrier of childcare for Nadja, she is able to earn a degree that will enable her to earn more and reach financial stability.