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United Way Of Florida Announces 2018 ALICE Report

Gabrielle Bolden
/
WFSU

The United Way of Florida says more than 3.4 million people are struggling to pay for basic needs.

United Way of Florida President, Ted Granger, says the organization wants a million dollars to help low-income families file taxes.

“The $1.2 million investment will help low-income workers recoup $48 million of tax credits that they are entitled to that they otherwise might not have claimed,” said Granger.

According to United Way 67 percent of Floridians, earn less than $20 per hour but in order to pay for basic needs they should be making close to $27 per hour.

South Florida resident, Victoria Townsend says its a rough reality for impoverished families,

“I mean you are able to have two working parents and still are not able to make ends meet. No matter what kind of job they may work with you still are not able to.” 

Florida House Representative Holly Raschein is sponsoring United Way’s budget request. The organization released its latest report on poverty in the Sunshine State, Wednesday at the Capitol.

Gabrielle Bolden is a fourth year broadcast journalism major attending Florida A&M University from Jacksonville, FL. Bolden is an aspiring multimedia producer. She previously served as a producer for News 20 at Five airing to at least 80,000 households, creating engaging content weekly. She pitched and wrote articles as a staff reporter for The FAMUAN Newspaper. She also produced the 2018 Election Night Special for News 20 at Five, covering state and local election races. Bolden interned for WCTV-Eyewitness News (CBS) producing a multimedia project covering the devastating wildfires in Eastpoint, Florida.