Mission

United Way Coastal and Western Connecticut envisions a community where every person is healthy, safe, and economically secure. We work in partnership with community to address critical needs and advance equitable pathways to wellbeing and financial security for everyone. UWCWC serves 27-towns across Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties and more than 25-percent of the state’s population. Our work is centered on the ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population. This data-driven initiative highlights the true cost of living in our community. In Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties, 42% of households live below the ALICE Threshold. The ALICE Threshold represents the minimum income level necessary for a household to afford the basic cost of living in their community. ALICE families include essential workers such as child care providers, health aides, retail staff, and educators. These households either find it difficult to afford basic necessities like housing, food, transportation, child care, healthcare, and utilities or are just one crisis away from financial instability. To promote economic stability and opportunity for ALICE households, we operate through five distinct strategies: Advocacy, Collective Action, Community Partnerships, Direct Service, and Grantmaking.