Social Determinants of Work
Building pathways to economic mobility
Cleveland’s economy is growing—but not for everyone.
We are one of the nation’s top 20 regions by economic size, yet 250,000 families still live at or near the poverty line. Many Greater Clevelanders struggle with essential living expenses despite working long hours.
Systemic barriers limit economic mobility in our region.
Many external conditions shape whether people can access and keep a job. These systemic factors are known as Social Determinants of Work. At United Way of Greater Cleveland, we’re working to address these barriers to economic mobility and create opportunities for lasting change.
Barriers to work are often invisible.
When you’re thriving economically, it can be easy to overlook the external conditions that make it possible for you to work. But for the thousands of Greater Clevelanders living on the edge of financial stability, navigating this web of circumstances can be a daily struggle.
What gets in the way of work?
The Social Determinants of Work are the conditions that shape a person’s ability to find, keep, and thrive in a job.
These interconnected areas reflect the structural supports people need to fully participate in the workforce:
Child Care- Affordable, accessible, and reliable care
- Safe, flexible, and affordable ways to get to work
- Consistent shelter reduces stress, supports mental health, and prevents disruptions to work and school
- Insurance, time off to seek care, and mental health services ensure workers can remain healthy and productive
- Reliable internet and devices to apply for jobs, attend training, and participate in remote work
- Time, resources, and flexibility to pursue upskilling, degrees, and language learning
- Access to representation for issues like eviction, wage theft, and family legal matters
- Predictable schedules, paid leave, and support for caregiving or emergencies
- Structural racism and other forms of discrimination create compounding barriers to employment and advancement
Social Determinants of Work in action
Watch the story of Jess, a 28-year-old single mother of two, to see how barriers to work impact daily life.
The Benefits Cliff: When a raise becomes a setback
Many workers face another barrier known as the benefits cliff. This is a sudden loss of benefits when your earnings cross an eligibility threshold.
A small raise can trigger a loss of benefits without providing enough income for financial stability. In these cases, a raise can result in a net financial loss. This discourages advancement and keeps people trapped in low-wage work.
In Cuyahoga County, 42% of households live paycheck to paycheck or below the threshold for basic stability.
Addressing the benefits cliff is essential to supporting economic mobility and building a stronger workforce.
How we're removing barriers to work
United Way of Greater Cleveland is actively reducing barriers to work through targeted programs and systems-level advocacy.
We engage in collaborative, cross-sector initiatives that address real challenges, including:
- Helping families remain stably housed through the Siemer Family Stability Initiative, which provides rental assistance and case management so families can avoid eviction, maintain employment, and keep children enrolled in school.
- Providing legal support for eviction prevention and housing stability through the Right to Counsel program.
- Offering on-site employee support to resolve crisis situations—such as childcare, transportation, or financial hardship—through Bridges@Work.
- Connecting people to career training aligned with local job opportunities through Workforce Sector Partnerships.
- Improving access to affordable medications through MedRefer, a prescription savings program supported by United Way 211.
We also advocate for public policies that support workforce stability, including:
- Protecting and expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), which provide working families with critical financial support.
- Increasing access to housing and legal protections for tenants, including eviction prevention and rental assistance programs.
- Expanding and protecting access to SNAP and Medicaid, to ensure individuals and families can meet their basic needs as they work toward stability.
- Improving and simplifying public benefit systems, especially to address the benefits cliff and support smoother transitions as incomes rise.
Through this combined approach—direct services and policy advocacy—we’re helping to redesign the systems that shape workforce access across Greater Cleveland.
Join us in building a stronger, more prosperous Cleveland
When the conditions around work are fair and supportive, individuals thrive—and so does our entire community. By investing in people and the systems that support them, we can create lasting change.
