The Charlottesville Works Initiative assists Charlottesville families striving to achieve self-reliance. In the Charlottesville region, 5,281 families (17 percent), mostly single mothers and their children, do not make enough money to pay for the essentials of life—food, shelter, clothing and utilities—and the added costs associated with working—childcare and transportation. Charlottesville Works Initiative will utilize Women United’s $25,000 grant to identify these families and increase their income to a level of self-sufficiency by identifying jobs within their reach and positioning them to secure and excel in those jobs.