The Mississippi Association of United Ways has launched a survey to assess the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the state’s residents.
“Every family in Mississippi has been impacted by COVID-19 in some way,” said Tracie Fowler, CEO for United Way of Southeast Mississippi, which is headquartered in Hattiesburg. “One of the most important tools we can use to navigate times like these is knowledge gathered from the people we serve.”
Before the pandemic hit, many households were led by workers unable to earn enough to cover the basics and save for unexpected crises or loss of employment.
For many, the economic crisis has stripped available assets and abruptly repositioned families into unfamiliar financial positions.
The survey seeks information on a wide range of topics, including the most pressing concerns, job changes, child care challenges and other economic changes Mississippi families are navigating.
“The hard work that will be needed to help communities recover is the very work United Way does every day,” Fowler said. “We help connect those in financial distress with resources to pay bills and stay in their homes; we help feed those facing food insecurity, and we help prepare children for success in school, work and life. The information from this survey will prepare us in tackling those challenges as we move forward.”
The survey is being conducted at no cost and is courtesy of the Louisiana Association of United Ways and a network of volunteer experts, including Dr. Steven Dick, member of the Louisiana ALICE Research Advisory Committee.
Advisory assistance is provided by the United For ALICE team.
ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget.
The survey can be found online at unitedwaysems.org. It takes about 10 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous.
“Your feedback, your story, is imperative to understanding how we move beyond the shadows of this pandemic,” Fowler said.
