?United Way of Horry County Unveils 2025 Community Needs Assessment and Community Game Plan at State of Our Families Even

Horry County, S.C. (March 19, 2026) — United Way of Horry County (UWHC) officially released its
2025 Community Needs Assessment and introduced its new Community Game Plan at the annual
State of Our Families event held yesterday, bringing together community leaders, partners, and
stakeholders to align around the most urgent needs facing local families.

The assessment, informed by thousands of community voices and data points, highlights growing
challenges for ALICE households—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — who earn
above the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford basic necessities. In Horry County, 41%
of households fall under the ALICE threshold, including 13% of households in poverty and 28%
being ALICE underscoring the need for coordinated community-wide solutions.

“Our community told us clearly what they’re facing,” said Blakely J. Roof, President & CEO of
United Way of Horry County. “This is about more than data—it’s about real families making tough
choices every day. The Community Game Plan is our commitment to turn these insights into
action and create pathways to stability and opportunity.”
Key Findings from the 2025 Community Needs Assessment:

• Youth Opportunity
--44% of residents say good schools are essential to a healthy community, while 2 out
of 3 report concerns about preparing young people for the workforce. Access to
early childhood education and out-of-school programs remains a significant gap.
• Healthy Community
--Access to affordable healthcare is a top priority, with 44% of residents identifying it
as critical. Mental and behavioral health services were the most frequently reported
unmet need, and only 19% of residents rate their community’s health as good
or excellent.
• Financial Security
--Rising costs continue to strain families, with many reporting concerns about
financial stability and access to credit counseling. Despite being employed, ALICE
households struggle to cover essentials like housing, food, and childcare.
• Community Resiliency:
--23.3% of residents worry about housing stability, and many report missing housing
or utility payments in the past year. Access to reliable information about available
services, along with needs like transportation, food assistance, and disaster
preparedness, remain top concerns.

The newly launched Community Game Plan builds on these findings, outlining a coordinated
strategy to address root causes, align resources, and drive measurable outcomes across
education, health, financial stability, and community resiliency.

“This is a call to action for our entire community,” Roof added. “No single organization can solve
these challenges alone. But together, we can align our efforts, invest strategically, and create
lasting change for ALICE families across Horry County.”

United Way of Horry County will use the assessment and Community Game Plan to guide funding
decisions, strengthen partnerships, and expand programs that directly address the barriers
families face every day.

• Important links to ALICE data, the Needs Assessment and Game Plan
o http://www.unitedwayhorry.org/communityneedsassessment/
o http://www.unitedwayhorry.org/communitygameplan/
o https://www.unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/south-carolina