As a single father, Eric knows how important it is to find the right early childhood program to set his children up for success. That’s why he enrolled his daughter Leilani in Early Head Start at the West Haven Child Development Center, a program designed for babies and toddlers ages 0–3.  It was…

The increased price of food has put a strain on families who were already struggling to get by. Today, so many of our neighbors are working hard to overcome barriers to build a life where they can thrive. 42% of households in Greater New Haven don’t make enough money to afford basic necessities…

Investing In Thriving Children When a child has stability, resources, and connections, they will flourish. The earliest experiences and relationships have lifelong effects on the development of a child. Early childhood education lays the groundwork for lifelong success and is vital in nurturing a…

Alea'S STORY Quality, affordable, and inclusive child care is what matters to Alea the most. It is critical to her children’s education so they can succeed. This single mom found what she was looking for in United Way’s Early Head Start program partner, Morning Glory in New Haven, where her…

KIRA'S STORY Driven by the need for safety after escaping domestic violence in Virginia, Kira and her three children returned to her hometown of New Haven. They moved in with Kira’s sister, who has four children of her own. While the kids loved being with their cousins and Kira appreciated the…

SHONTAYA'S STORY Leaking ceilings and a month-to-month lease, Shontaya’s apartment was not in good condition, nor was it secure. As a single mother of six, including twins, Shontaya was looking for better living conditions for her children. When she began to face financial challenges, she was…

MUHISONI'S STORY Muhisoni and her two daughters arrived in Connecticut in 2020 as refugees escaping war and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Through a program funded by United Way’s Thriving Families grant, Muhisoni was able to pay for EMT training, which she then leveraged into…

SAMANTHA'S STORY Samantha was raised by her adopted mother from the age of 2 years old. After experiencing conflict at home, she found herself homeless at the age of 16. To pursue a better life, she moved from Massachusetts to New Haven into the home of her future mother-in-law. After the move,…

PRIDE MONTH SPOTLIGHT WITH JUSTIN ZEIGLER, MADISON PRIDE AND MADISON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES This Pride Month, United Way of Greater New Haven is highlighting local organizations within our network who are working hard to celebrate and support queer communities in Connecticut.  We sat down and…

With the help of United Way of Greater New Haven, Andretia was able to find an apartment after losing her housing while her teenage son was fighting for his life while undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. “My son Elijah had thyroid cancer and was fighting for his life. It was the scariest…