When most people think of United Way, they think of food pantries, public works assistance, and local community programs. And they are right. We do that work and we’re proud of it. But what many people don’t realize is how much United Way of Florida functions as an invisible infrastructure, working behind the scenes in ways that only an organization with more than 100 years of community roots can.
This became evident during the 2024-25 hurricane season, when more than 50 of Florida’s 67 counties experienced the highest levels of impact from Hurricanes Helen, Milton, and Debbie. Many organizations arrived to help, but most eventually returned home. United Way has been around for a long time because we live here.
When a disaster strikes, the impact is even more severe for those who are just one paycheck away from financial crisis: ALICE (asset limited, income limited, employed) families. These are renters who may be forced to move, hourly workers who are unable to go to work and lose income, or families who don’t have the resources to move or work remotely.
That’s why we’re excited to announce that United Way of Florida has introduced a groundbreaking tool to the state of Florida: the ALICE Disaster Assistance Tracker. United Way of Florida, which United plans to release for ALICE in March, hopes to be the first, if not the first, to fully adopt the tool.
This interactive tool integrates FEMA and ALICE data in an unprecedented way. Policymakers can now track disaster assistance applications, claims, denials, and amounts by ALICE income status and housing type. We finally know which communities are accessing support and where the impact is deepest and longest-lasting.
Florida has been a superuser of ALICE data for many years. We were among the first states to adopt the ALICE report in 2014, fully integrating this bipartisan data into our state structures.
United Way of Florida pays for these tools and makes them available for other organizations to use to do useful work. For example, Florida Power & Light uses ALICE data to help families who can’t pay their utility bills. The Florida Chamber of Commerce is building it into its economic plan. And now this disaster tool adds another important dimension to responding to community needs.
United Way’s work in disaster response exemplifies what I mean when I say we are invisible infrastructure. We’re not just writing checks. We strategize, convene, connect, and problem solve. We are a stable presence before, during, and after a crisis. What we are offering is a show of hands, not a handout.
As we continue to build more resilient communities across Florida, we invite you to explore the many ways United Way of Florida strengthens families and communities across the state. Our disaster work is only part of a bigger picture. We work to ensure that all Florida families have access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to build a safe and stable future.
Melissa Nelson is president and CEO of United Way of Florida, where she represents the state’s 28 United Ways on legislative and administrative issues, disaster preparedness and recovery, and statewide initiatives. For more information, please visit www.uwof.org.
