Community Resiliency | United Way Broward

Every community deserves the opportunity to prosper. At United Way Broward, we partner with volunteers, donors, businesses, local governments, and agencies to build a resilient community ready for any challenge.

We strengthen Broward County’s foundations for a sustainable future through:

crisis hotline and response
emergency preparedness
disaster relief and recovery
public policy and advocacy

United Way Broward's in-house initiatives for Community Resiliency include:

Crisis Hotline and Response

When facing a crisis, individuals need immediate access to reliable services. Every hour, someone in Broward contacts 211 for help with housing, food, abuse, depression, or childcare.

Supported by United Way, 211 Broward is a 24-7 helpline connecting residents to crisis, health, and human services. In 2024, the 211 network in the U.S. handled over 16.8 million requests, and Broward ranked among Florida’s busier centers. Hundreds of residents in our community receive daily assistance from trained counselors offering confidential referrals.

211 provides:

crisis support for suicide prevention, emotional distress, domestic violence, and abuse
basic-needs referrals for food, housing, shelters, and utilities
health and wellness guidance, including counseling and substance abuse treatment
disaster and pandemic services for hurricanes, COVID-19, and other emergencies
child and family resources such as childcare and parenting support
accessibility by phone (dial 211), text (898211), online chat, email, and mobile app
multilingual availability - English, Spanish, and professional interpreter lines for over 180 languages

By offering round-the-clock access, 211 reduces ER visits, prevents crises from escalating, and strengthens resiliency. Its data-driven, real-time dashboards also help policymakers allocate resources effectively.

Emergency Preparedness

Broward County is highly vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, and tornados. United Way Broward mobilizes resources, coordinates with agencies, and ensures residents have support before, during, and after disasters.

We combine proactive planning, education, and rapid response. Working with the Broward County Emergency Management Division, we align community response plans with official protocols. Residents receive resources to create personal emergency plans, understand evacuation routes, and access shelters. Through 211, we provide real-time updates and referrals — helping families connect quickly to food, shelter, medical care, and counseling services.

Disaster Relief and Recovery

Natural and man-made disasters have devastating impacts on communities, including loss of life, personal injury, illness, home displacement, and property destruction.

The 2024 hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes.
In June 2024, Broward endured 20 inches of rain in 48 hours, flooding multiple cities.
Nearly 22.4% of Broward's population - nearly half a million people - is considered at-risk during disasters.

United Way Broward responds by mobilizing volunteers, distributing supplies, and funding frontline agencies. We coordinate shelter operations, food distribution, and mental health support, and we put a special focus on vulnerable groups such as seniors, Veterans, and people with disabilities.

Recovery extends beyond immediate relief. We help rebuild homes, restore healthcare access, and provide counseling to address trauma. Our ability to pivot from emergency response to long-term recovery makes us a cornerstone of Broward’s resilience strategy.

This strength is amplified through collaboration with 27 other local United Ways across Florida, pooling resources, advocating for legislation, and directing funds to the hard-hit communities.

Public Policy

Our advocacy addresses the challenges facing ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These families earn above the poverty line but struggle to afford housing, food, healthcare, childcare, and transportati

We convene clients, providers, and leaders to identify challenges and study evidence-based solutions. Findings culminate in the annual ALICE Report, a key tool for educating elected officials and guiding policy. Our efforts have brought over 600 community members into direct conversations with legislators. Each year, volunteers — including our Women United delegation — travel to Tallahassee to meet with policymakers.

In 2025, our consensus legislative agenda focused on these areas:

Education

identifying and supporting legislation that allows Florida's working families to access quality childcare and early learning
investing in childcare and early learning to improve reading and math literacy
decreasing disparities in third-grade reading levels, which are significant for Hispanic and Black students and those experiencing poverty

Veterans

funding additional positions for Veterans Service Organizations
enhancing outreach efforts
investing in programs and promotions that connect Veterans to free services
increasing awareness among female veterans who often are unaware they are eligible for certain benefits and specialized programs

Behavioral Health

making preemptive investments in behavioral health services to address Florida's growing population and the resulting demand
increasing access to trained behavioral health professionals in dedicated mental health settings (rather than primary care providers)

Economic Mobility

promoting the development of diverse and robust housing options for lower-to-moderate-income households
preserving existing affordable housing stock, including initiatives allowing seniores to age in place
ensuring ALICE families have access to high-quality, fresh foods

For more information about United Way Broward’s public-policy efforts, contact BSuarez@UnitedWayBroward.org

United is The Way to Community Resiliency