Financial Wellness Partnership Update

February 2023

In this month’s newsletter, learn about upcoming meetings with researchers and budget analysts, catch up on work from our focus groups, stay informed about new resources, and more.

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona's Financial Wellness Partnership envisions a community where every person and family is financially well - asking five questions:


  • Can a household cover their basic needs?


  • Do they have savings for emergencies, retirement, and education?


  • Can they make informed financial decisions for themselves and their families by using financial skills?


  • Can they pursue wealth-building opportunities such as homeownership, entrepreneurship, or further education?


  • Do they have a voice in civic and community resource decisions, particularly funding and policies?
For all of these areas, financial wellness requires equitable access, awareness, and the capability to use resources related to income, employment, housing, benefits, budgeting, credit, and more. 

Partnership Updates

Join us for our next Network Meeting

Thursday, February 16th, 3-4:30pm


At our February meeting, we will host staff from the Arizona Center for Economic Progress for an overview the Arizona state budget. Specifically, their team will dive into our state's revenue sources, taxes and who pays what, and key concepts about the budgeting process. They will also update us about current proposed state budgets and what's at stake. In addition to the presentation, we will check in on our monthly focus groups and hear other updates from financial wellness focus areas.


This will be a hybrid meeting, with the option to log in via Zoom or attend in-person at the United Way office (330 Commerce Park Loop #200). To receive the meeting invite, contact Elizabeth Miller (emiller@unitedwaytucson.org).

Eviction Prevention Case Management Group

Our Eviction Prevention Case Management group is really coming together to build community and share resources! At our January meeting, nearly 30 local case managers joined for a conversation with Pima County staff about emergency assistance and an overview of our Basecamp for shared resources. As part of that discussion, information was shared out on the Community Action Division, Homeowners Assistance Fund (which continues to have resources available), and how to follow up with applications submitted before the portal closed. Case managers also shared about status and experiences with Section 8 housing applications.

All case managers, particularly those working on eviction prevention cases, are welcome to join these meetings! The next EPCM meeting is Wednesday 2/8 at 3pm (online). We will be joined by staff from Step Up to Justice and Southern Arizona Legal Aid to discuss legal resources. If you or someone on your team is interested in joining, contact Elizabeth Miller (emiller@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the calendar invite.

Public Policy Group

Our Public Policy group meets monthly to stay updated about policy happenings related to financial wellness and learn about legislative processes together. The public policy group had a successful trip to the City of Tucson Mayor and Council meeting on January 24, learning about the TEP franchise agreement, El Pueblo Housing Development, American Battery Factory, and community comments on encampments, Santa Rita Park, and resources for houseless members of the community. The following week, the group hosted a debrief with City staff about the meeting, discussing Call to Audience procedures, study sessions, public engagement pathways, Commissions, and more. The group hopes to have attend additional meetings in the future, so keep an eye out for more opportunities to get involved.

Opportunities and items of note flagged by the public policy group for this month:


  • Mayor & Council Quick Guide: To prepare for the M&C meeting visit, United Way staff and partners compiled key engagement info and tips into a guide. Feel free to use and reference!
  • Ward 1 Participatory Budgeting Process: Ward 1 is collecting ideas from people who learn, live, and work in that area during the month of February. In addition to in-person idea collection events (Saturday 2/11 10-1pm; Thursday 2/23 6-8pm; Saturday 2/25 10-1pm), ideas can also be submitted online.


Our next Public Policy group meeting will be 3/1 from 1:30-2:30pm, meeting virtually. Contact Elizabeth Miller (emiller@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the calendar invite.

Financial Empowerment Collaborative

The Financial Empowerment Collaborative is a group of 20 organizations focused on elevating the quality and reach of financial education, coaching, and literacy programs in Southern Arizona. By identifying barriers and disparities, learning together, and sharing tools and resources, the group commits to centering equity and improving financial wellness outcomes for those in programs and across the community.


At our January meeting, the group reported on new partnerships, certifications, achievements, and upcoming classes and workshops. We also talked through ideas for more effective outreach about financial empowerment supports in general. At least half of the programs represented at the meeting have capacity to accept new students/participants right now. If you would like to explore financial empowerment workshops or classes - for you or a group - don't hesitate to reach out!

Upcoming meetings for the Financial Empowerment Collaborative:


  • February Meeting - Thursday 2/23, 9am-10am (hybrid): We will likely being having a discussion on outreach strategies in preparation for Financial Capability Month in April.
  • March Lecture - Friday 3/17, 1-3pm (hybrid): Group members are planning to attend a public Frances McClelland Institute lecture on financial socialization messages at UA (register here).


Meetings are open to any interested community members who deliver financial empowerment supports. Contact Elizabeth Miller (emiller@unitedwaytucson.org) to receive the calendar invite for the February meeting or more info on the lecture in March.

Project and Program Highlights

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona VITA Sites Open Now!

United Way of Tucson's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides FREE tax preparation for households earning less than $73,000 annually! Each year, United Way of Tucson trains hundreds of volunteers to help thousands of low- and moderate-income families across the state file their taxes for free while ensuring they receive the maximum refund they deserve. In-person VITA sites are now accepting walk-ins and appointments, or you can receive the same great service from the comfort of your home using our fully virtual options.

Visit unitedwaytucson.org/vita for more information about the different service models available, site schedules, appointment scheduling, and much more! Feel free to share our digital flyer with your network, printed flyers are available upon request. Email vita@unitedwaytucson if you have any questions.

Everyone Counts! Pima County Street Count

The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single day in January. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuums of Care (CoC) conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered, as well as sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. As Pima County’s CoC, TPCH leads the PIT count each year, which locally is called Everyone Counts!—Pima County Street Count. The data collected during this count provides insight into our community’s unhoused population and service gaps, along with a snapshot of what homelessness looks like on a single night in Pima County. Lisa Floran and Elizabeth Miller from United Way's Financial Wellness volunteered with a team including members from Pima County and Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, learning about needs and experiences from people in the Amphi/Flowing Wells area.

Resource Corner

Woman peeks over a book in a library surrounded by books

Financial Wellness Resources for Southern Arizona

United Way Tucson Financial Wellness Resource List: This resource list has a new look! You can now share with others and access via the United Way website through our Financial Wellness Community Resources page.


Find programmatic and 1:1 opportunities for financial coaching/education, tax assistance, workforce development, and more on this list developed by United Way of Tucson and Southern AZ partners. If you are involved with a program, service, or other resource supporting financial wellness in Southern Arizona, we would love to add you to the list. If you are already on our list, we would love for you to review your entry and make sure it is up to date. Want to add or update your program's entry? Use this form.


Youth on the Rise Re-Engagement App: A new resource guide to help youth 16-24 navigate services, resources, and systems in Pima County.

Reading List

Workplace Financial Health Innovation: Exploring the Spectrum of Financial Guidance Solutions for Your Employees - Financial Health Network, December 13, 2022


Food-insecure households spend 20% more on health care - Marketplace, January 10, 2023


The American middle class is bracing for its next financial blow - Fortune, January 12, 2023


Supporting Returning Citizens’ Financial Health -Financial Health Network, January 23, 2023


A Little Known HUD Program Could Help Lift Renters Out of Poverty - Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, January 25, 2023


Three Ways Corporate Philanthropy Can Address the Racial Wealth Gap - Urban Institute, January 12, 2023


Biden-Harris Administration Releases Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, Announces Agency Action for Implementation - National Low Income Housing Coalition, January 30, 2023


Report Finds Renters with Low Incomes Struggling Financially More Now Than Earlier in the Pandemic - National Low Income Housing Coalition, January 30, 2023

Job Postings

The Arizona Center for Economic Progress is hiring! They have two open positions they are looking to fill: economic policy analyst and director of economic policy. Please see their website for more information.


The Primavera Foundation is hiring! They have multiple openings, but would like to highlight their public policy advocate position. Please see their website for more information.

Other Opportunities

Launching Urban’s Financial Well-Being Data Hub: A New Approach to Improving Financial Security and Advancing Equity: On February 21 from 10:30-11:30am MST the Urban Institute is launching the Financial Well-Being Data Hub to harness the potential of consumer data to improve financial security and advance equity. Through the Data Hub, the Urban Institute will bring together disparate data sources to create a new data asset that provides a holistic understanding of people’s financial well-being. Please join the Urban Institute and nationally recognized experts for a conversation about how this new initiative will advance actionable solutions to improve financial well-being. Register for the event here.


HUD Announces Virtual Briefings on AFFH Rule: HUD announced three virtual briefings on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing proposed rule, which will be released “imminently” (see Memo, 1/23). The briefings will summarize the main components of the proposed rule, and HUD representatives will present “supplementary information” at the briefings tailored to each type of program participant: those involved in Community Planning and Development, those involved in Public and Indian Housing, and residents and community members. HUD will not be accepting public comment during these briefings. Advocates can sign up for the briefings using the links below:

Read more about the proposed AFFH rule and monitor further AFFH announcements from HUD at: https://www.hud.gov/affh.


Beyond Surviving to Thriving: Building a Gender Equitable Economy Based on Womens’ Lived Experience: In honor of International Women’s Day, please join the Asset Funders Network, Economic Opportunity Funders, EITC Funders Network to learn about how we can build a gender-equitable economy in which women and their families can strive, thrive, and reach their full potential. This event is on March 7th at 11am MST Register for the event here.

Additional Information


What Tenants Need to Know During COVID-19 – Robust list including rental assistance, eviction protection/moratorium, and legal assistance resources compiled by Pima County.


How Can Rent Reporting Benefit Your Credit? - Rent reporting can help renters build credit without having to take on any debt. Learn more at the link!


FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance: To help ease the financial stress caused by the virus, FEMA is helping pay for COVID-19- related funeral expenses. Individuals can receive up to $9,000. To start an application, individuals must first call the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline: 844-684-6333. Multiple languages are available. The phone line is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm E.T.


TucsonEvictionHelp.org: This tool from TPCH can help individuals and families check their eligibility for homelessness prevention funds, which may be available in certain situations - such as when a family is paying to stay at a hotel but running out of funds, or being forced to leave a housing situation where they are doubled up.


Arizona Homeowner Assistance Fund: The HAF program provides help for homeowners who have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 after January 21st, 2020. Homeowners can use HAF funds for the purpose of preventing the following: homeowner mortgage delinquencies, homeowner mortgage defaults, homeowner mortgage foreclosures, homeowner loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship.


Health Benefits: AHCCCS is taking steps to ensure that all eligible Arizonans can stay covered as the federal government ends the national public health emergency. Visit the AHCCCS page to check steps that can ensure members do not experience gaps in coverage.


SingleCare Affordable Prescriptions: United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona partners with SingleCare to provide community members with access to affordable prescription medications. The SingleCare prescription savings card is always free to use by everyone and has no registration or eligibility requirements - it can be used right away. Once signed up, a member just needs to show the savings card to their pharmacist when they fill a prescription at a participating pharmacy. The discount will be automatically applied at checkout.


Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)- The ACP is an FCC benefit (formerly Emergency Broadband Benefit) that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they require for work, healthcare and to stay connected. The ACP provides eligible low-income households a credit up to $30 a month toward the cost of Internet service ($75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands). Participants in the program can apply the ACP credit toward the cost of participating plans from a variety of Internet service providers, as well as mobile services.


  • Locally, Comcast is one participating provider. Households that choose plans that cost $30/month or less will essentially receive their service for free - learn more about Comcast's program here


Pima County Housing Search - Searchable database of affordable rental housing, supported by Pima County


AZ Eviction Help - Information about eviction processes, tenant rights, and resources for rental assistance, utility assistance, legal assistance compiled by the Arizona Bar Association


Order Free COVID-19 Tests: Go to COVIDTests.gov, to order four tests per household. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days and will begin shipping later this month.


COVID-19 Vaccination Sites - Accessibility and Accommodation Resources for People with Disabilities: Information from the Arizona Center for Disability Law


AZDHS COVID-19 Website – Latest updates, closure and re-opening announcements, and data dashboard

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The Financial Wellness Partnership seeks to improve the financial wellness of individuals and families by increasing accessibility to effective services, resources, and opportunities, and by influencing policy to
develop equitable, people-centered systems that support financial wellness.

View past newsletters and learn more about our programs here: United Way Financial Wellness

If you have questions or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact Lisa Floran, Senior Director of Financial Wellness Initiatives at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona: lfloran@unitedwaytucson.org