AdvocatePublic Policy

Speak together and be heard

Policy makers are critical partners in promoting health, education, workforce development, and human services, so we actively engage, help educate, and advocate for good policy. And when you add your voice to our chorus, you make us that much louder and that much more effective.

Metro United Way 2026 Public Policy Priorities

Metro United Way recognizes that systemic change and lasting impact require a pairing of powerful programming and transformative policy making. Elected officials and administrative leaders are critical partners in promoting equity and opportunity for all people in the areas of education, economic mobility, and health, and as such, Metro United Way actively engages in public policy efforts.

The range of issues affecting our priorities is vast. To be effective, Metro United Way has a targeted public policy agenda below that has relevancy across our seven-county and two-state region.

Thriving Kids

There’s nothing more important than ensuring our community’s children have what they need to thrive.
  • Ensure access to prenatal care that addresses disparities in birth outcomes and maternal health
    • MUW Programming: Ready for K Alliance
  • Increase availability of high-quality, affordable care, early childhood learning opportunities, and individualized supports for families
    • MUW Programming: Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ), Ready for K Alliance
  • Enhance accessibility to out-of-school time programming, academic supports, and interventions for youth and families to ensure they are connected to their community
    • MUW Programming: Youth Success Network, Young Men United

 

Strong Households

When families have what they need, they can break cycles of poverty and work toward a better tomorrow for future generations and our entire community.
  • Advocate for greater access to safe, affordable, and stable housing across all income levels
    • MUW Programming: Siemer Institute, Southern Indiana Housing Initiative, Louisville Lead Safe Strategic Plan, Housing Alliance Louisville
  • Ensure households have resources they need to not only achieve safety and stability, but to thrive and improve their economic mobility
    • MUW Programming: YALift!, Bank on Louisville, VITA, Workforce Financial Coaching, Housing Alliance Louisville
  • Provide framework and support for social service organizations so that they have resources to provide quality, timely care to the community members they serve
    • MUW Programming: United Community, 211, CORE Home Repair Hub, Mission Marketplace

 

Equitable Community

We envision the Greater Louisville region as a place where zip code doesn’t determine destiny and everyone has the opportunity to grow into their full potential.
  • Implement equitable, common sense criminal justice reforms that prevent at-risk individuals from becoming justice-involved and promote successful reentry from the justice system
    • MUW Programming: H.O.P.E United Fellowship
  • Address the history of structural and institutional policies that have disproportionately affected perpetuated cycles of generational poverty
    • MUW Programming: Fund BLACK Founders, United Neighborhoods, Racial Wealth Gap Simulation, Black Love Philanthropic Partnership, H.O.P.E United Fellowship, Louisville Support for Immigrant Coalition
  • Promote civic and voter engagement to ensure that all voices are heard in the decision-making processes that shape our shared future
    • MUW Programming: Black L.O.V.E. (Live, Own, Vote, Excel) Philanthropic Partnership

 

Nonprofit Sector

Empowering nonprofits is crucial to their ability to meet critical needs and solve our community’s most pressing challenges.
  • Promote tax policy that fuels community solutions through nonprofits and encourages philanthropic giving
  • Support laws and executive actions that help build stronger communities by strengthening the nonprofit sector and its workforce

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Live United Day at the Kentucky Capitol

Join Metro United Way for the 2026 Live United Day at the Kentucky State Capitol on Thursday, January 29 in Frankfort. With partners across the Commonwealth, we will shine a spotlight on the policy solutions to support thriving kids, strong households, and an equitable community. Through personal meetings with your legislators, remarks from policy leaders, and networking with United Way volunteers across Kentucky, this is your chance to speak up for the issues that guide our mission.

Register below no later than Wednesday, January 22nd. Transportation and food will be provided.

JOIN OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK

 

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Resources

  • Louisville Housing Needs Assessment

    Download
  • Housing: The Affordability Challenge in a Growing Region

    Clark and Floyd Counties, Indiana

    Download
  • Foundation for Action: Child Care Solutions Report

    Read Report Here
  • Health Impacts of Proposed Land Development Code Reform: Benefits of Middle Housing

    Download
  • A Qualitative Assessment of Prenatal Care and Prenatal Care Access in Louisville / Jefferson County

    Download
  • Eviction Expungement: A Tool to Reduce Homelessness and Improve Health for Kentuckians

    Download
  • Update to the Health Impact Assessment of Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program:

    Increasing eligibility for Public Pre-Kindergarten Support

    Download
  • Health Impact Assessment of Expungement Policy in Kentucky

    Click to View Assessment
  • Health Impact Assessment of Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program

    Download
  • Impact of COVID on KY's Child Care Providers

    Learn More
  • Greater Louisville Project Early Childhood Report

    View Report
  • 2023 State of Metropolitan Housing Report

    Download

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