Impact Stories

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…

When you’re a teen mom, there are a lot of people telling you what you can’t accomplish. Emerald realized that if she wanted to build the kind of life that she and her partner Dominic dreamed of for their daughter, she needed to surround herself with people who believed in her and wanted what was…

Prior to the pandemic, Quanella, mom of four, provided for her family through a steady job. However, as per diem employee, she was one of the first to be let go when her company made unplanned staffing cuts. “All my income was ripped away in the blink of an eye. I worked all my life, so, when this…

Lanaysia United Way creates connections and helps people like Lanaysia find stability and balance so that they can dream of a better future. Lanaysia needed to find a place of her own. As a 9-1-1 dispatcher with two young kids, she sought space and stability to start thinking about her future. “I…

Meet the voices from our 2021 Campaign Video who tell their own stories of how United Way has made a difference in their lives. Each and every member of our community has their own voice. United Way empowers everyone to share their own stories and find a way to get involved. Surrenity talks about…