By Lacey Mills
Let’s talk about something that affects more of our neighbors than we probably realize: financial instability.
In Reno County, 42% of households are living in poverty or fall into the ALICE category – Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. These are folks who work hard, often full-time or multiple jobs, but still can’t quite cover the basics. They’re making tough choices every day between food, rent, transportation, and childcare.
What might surprise you even more is who this impacts:
- 72% of people under 25 in our county are ALICE or in poverty.
- 50% of seniors 65 and older face the same struggle.
- Even in their prime working years, 37% of adults aged 25 to 44 and 32% aged 45 to 64 are living on the edge.
These aren’t fringe numbers. This is half of our community.
But here’s the hopeful part: Reno County has built something special, a network of programs offering more than just stopgap solutions. These organizations are equipping people with tools, coaching, and community to help them move forward, not just get by.
Circles Reno County is one of those programs leading the way. It’s not a crisis service, it’s a growth-focused community for people who are ready to make long-term changes. Participants, known as Circle Leaders, attend weekly meetings to learn budgeting, debt reduction, and goal-setting. But more importantly, they’re paired with volunteer Allies, everyday people who walk beside them with mentorship, encouragement, and accountability. The relationships built in Circles often become the real catalyst for transformation.
For families who are still in the thick of a crisis, The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope offers critical support. It’s designed for families with children who are facing challenges like unemployment, unstable housing, or a recent life event that’s knocked them off track. What makes Pathway unique is that it pairs immediate assistance with long-term planning and coaching, helping families not just recover, but thrive.
Then there’s Interfaith Housing Services, which offers two standout programs.
First, the Take Control Financial Wellness Program provides financial education through group seminars and personalized coaching. Built around six core areas: visioning, maximizing income, spending, saving, borrowing, and protecting assets, this program meets people where they are, helping them set financial goals and build the skills to reach them.
Second is the Kansas Individual Development Account (IDA) Program. This matched savings program helps people work toward big goals such as buying a home, paying for education, repairing a home, or starting a small business. After completing an online class, participants receive a 2-to-1 match on their savings, turning small steps into real opportunities for growth.
And if someone isn’t sure where to begin? That’s where United Way’s Reno Connections steps in. This free navigation service helps connect individuals and families to the right resources, whether they’re in a moment of crisis or just trying to get ahead. One call to Reno Connections opens the door to all of these programs and more.
Here’s the bottom line: poverty and financial struggle aren’t always visible. But neither is the strength of the support system that exists right here in Reno County.
So, who knew?
Who knew we had a community built not just on generosity, but on empowerment, education, and connection?
Who knew that behind the statistics are stories, stories of people showing up for each other, building a future that’s more stable, more hopeful, and more human?
Now you do.
Lacey Mills is the Executive Director of United Way of Reno County and can be reached at lmills@uwrenocounty.org.