Building Financial Stability, Together
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. At Greater Longview United Way, we support programs and partnerships that help individuals and families increase income, reduce debt, and gain the tools they need for lasting financial stability. When our neighbors are financially secure, our whole community grows stronger—united is the way forward.
The ETLC’s Adult Basic Literacy/ESL program assists clients ages 16 and above ranging in different skill levels and needs. ESL clients receive instruction to improve communication, reading, and writing skills in English. Other clients seek help preparing to take the exam to earn their High School Equivalency or GED. All clients are assessed, and individualized learning plans are developed. Instruction is given by trained volunteer tutors, staff, and through ETLC’s computer learning centers.
ETLC’s Young Adult Dropout Literacy program assists young adults (age 16-25) who need the skills to obtain a High School Equivalency (formerly GED) certification or post-secondary certificate for employment with wages that allow self-sufficiency. The program provides a staff instructor/mentor, job skill counseling to address available certifications, high-interest instructional materials, pre-GED instruction, and other basic literacy instruction as needed. Complete funding for the Official Practice GED test and partial funding for the GED test may also be obtained, as funds allow.
Job Ready is a structured educational program teaching young people with either no work history or poor work history how to present themselves to the workforce, how to identify a career path utilizing assessment software and how to gain and maintain employment. Job Ready supports and guides them in their job search, and interviewing, advocates on their behalf with employers, delivers job coaching, helps provide both interview and work-related uniform requirements, and emphasizes work ethic.
The Self-Help Homeownership Program is the primary program of Northeast Texas Habitat (NETHFH). Northeast Texas Habitat partners with low-income families living in inadequate, unsafe, unaffordable, and/or overcrowded housing to build simple, safe, and decent homes. The community provides volunteerism and donations in construction labor, professional services, money, and materials to construct the homes in a cost-efficient manner. Once completed, the home is sold to the family with a long-term affordable mortgage loan.
The NE TX Habitat Repair program addresses hazards in the homes of low-income homeowners in Gregg, Harrison, and Upshur counties. The program focuses on restoring homes to a safe and healthy condition for homeowners whose monthly income falls at or below 80% of the annual median income for Gregg, Harrison, and Upshur counties, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The program encompasses three primary areas of focus:
1. Health and Safety Hazards: Addressing hazards that negatively affect the health and
physical safety of the occupants.
2. Accessibility Modifications: Making structural adjustments to facilitate independent
access and use of the home and its amenities by individuals with disabilities.
3. Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience: Implementing repairs and upgrades that promote environmental justice, including energy efficiency and climate resilience enhancements for historically underrepresented populations.
LCM assists Longview households with utilities as follows (maximum amount of assistance is provided): • Electric ($100) • Water ($50) • Gas ($50) Policy requires that the utility company is contacted to verify the amount due. Further requirements provide that the client show proof of ability to pay the remainder of the amount due. No disconnect notice is required; however, the bill must be within five days of the due date.
Longview Community Ministries provides one-time-only emergency rental assistance to Longview residents in need. Applicants may not be benefiting from any type of subsidized housing or live in a tax credit property. Applicants must undergo an interview, whereby the property ownership is verified and the landlord is contacted to verify that the family will not face eviction within thirty days.
LCM’s Learning Lab provides classes to interested individuals free of charge. All classes are designed to fight poverty, obtain or maintain gainful employment, help better manage resources, and create a more stable home environment. Instruction is provided by volunteer teachers in LCM’s classroom or an interview office.