NOVEMBER

2015

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

IN THIS ISSUE: Giving #ThanksToALICE, 2-1-1 Event Calendar, AccessHealthCT, and Operation Fuel

Give #ThanksToALICE on Giving Tuesday

A Message from Richard Porth President/CEO of United Way of Connecticut

In Connecticut, 1-in-4 households have earnings that exceed the Federal Poverty Level but fall short of a basic cost of living threshold. We call these households ALICE-which is a United Way acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

ALICE workers are essential to our daily lives, and do important work in our communities. So on this Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to give #ThanksToALICE.

Some ideas for how you can Give, Advocate or Volunteer to show your #ThanksToALICE are listed below, and you can find more on our Giving Tuesday Crowdrise page here.

Giving #ThanksToALICE

Advocate for strategies that improve long-term prospects for ALICE households, such as making child care more affordable or increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Read and share the Connecticut ALICE Report.
Engage with local and state leaders, as well as your family, friends, and neighbors about ALICE.
Contact your local United Way to find a volunteer opportunity in your area.
Join the discussion about giving #ThanksToALICE on Twitter or Facebook.

The 2-1-1 Community Events Calendar

In addition to all of the other enhancements to the 2-1-1 website that were introduced in the October Community Connection newsletter is a brand new 2-1-1 Community Events Calendar.

The online calendar is a hub of upcoming events from around the state that is maintained by the 2-1-1 Information Services team. It includes events with a service focus, which are organized by type into

the following categories:

Utilities
Volunteer
Food
Housing
Health Care
Employment
Veterans
Older Adults
Youth

Submissions can be made to the 2-1-1 Community Events Calendar, as long as the event is free of charge, open to the public, and sponsored or hosted by an agency that is currently listed with 2-1-1.

Events can be submitted for possible inclusion in the 2-1-1 Community Events Calendar at this link, and the calendar can be accessed from the home page at 211ct.org by clicking on the "Professionals" link at the top of the page or directly at this link.

AccessHealthCT Open Enrollment

The open enrollment period for health insurance coverage in the 2016 plan year began on November 1 and will end on January 31, 2016. Individuals and families that need health insurance coverage effective on January 1st must be enrolled by December 15th.

AccessHealthCT offers free, in-person assistance their enrollment centers and partner organizations throughout the state, with no appointment necessary. Click here for locations and hours.

Enrollment Fairs and Community Chats will also be held throughout the state during the enrollment period. Details will be available here and on the 2-1-1 Community Calendar as events are scheduled.

To learn more or enroll, visit accesshealthct.org or dial 1-855-805-4325.

Operation Fuel Winter Program

Operation Fuel has begun to accept applications for home heating assistance through their 2015-2016 winter program.

Through the program, eligible households can receive grants of up to $500 toward the cost of deliverable fuels such as oil, propane, kerosene, coal, pellets, and wood that are used as the primary heating source for their home.

In order to receive assistance from the program, households must initiate an application through their local Operation Fuel partner agency. To learn more about the Operation Fuel winter program and its eligibility criteria, dial 2-1-1 or click here to find your town.

The mission of United Way of Connecticut is to help meet the needs of Connecticut and its residents by providing information, education and connection to services.