Dorothy had a rewarding career as an elementary school teacher in Danbury for 26 years. She was also an active mom with two daughters and gave back to the community as a Girl Scout Leader. Then, in 2007, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), and by 2010, was forced to go on disability retirement. When her husband lost his job in 2014, Dorothy lost her health insurance and could no longer afford to see a doctor.
A major medical episode led to an extended hospital stay — she was in a medically induced coma for four days. She is recovering now, but her disability income does not cover the cost of living. “My check covers rent, utilities, and car insurance,” Dorothy says. “After that, there is nothing left.” Her daughters, who are now in their twenties and live at home, buy food, gas, and often pay for some of her prescriptions; although there have been periods of time when she was forced to go without MS medication for months.
After Dorothy’s brother showed her a newspaper article about United Way’s emphasis on ALICE, she called our United Way office in Danbury which quickly connected her to local resources. She is currently working with a UWWC Financial Resource coach, who is helping her with budgeting and restoring her credit. She is also going through a job training program at TBICO in the hopes of being able to supplement her income. Her husband now has a temporary job and they were able to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Things are looking up, but she says, “It’s not supposed to be this hard.” She struggles with stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. “When it happens so suddenly, you’re not prepared for it,” she says. “I thought I had another 10 years of teaching left.”
Surveys show that 60% of Americans do not have a household budget to manage their income or track their spending. Seeing this need in our own communities, UWWC launched the Financial Resource Center in 2012 with a community partnership of volunteer financial coaches, area banks, and local businesses to ultimately empower individuals and families toward financial independence. Today, the virtual center offers personal budget coaching, financial literacy skill building, and financial workshops at local companies throughout greater Danbury and greater New Milford.
View Previous Profile View Next Profile
Return to the 2015 Annual Report Landing Page