Mission United

ARE YOU A VETERAN, ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER OR MILITARY FAMILY?

This is where you get the support you’ve earned.

Mission United is a United Way program of United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties and while Mission United is dedicated to serves those who have served, it also provides a personal touch that many of the Veterans Affairs options are simply unable to accommodate, often due to capacity.

More than 52,000 Veterans call Lake or Sumter County home. Whether they left the services years ago or are currently transitioning to civilian life, many struggle with the challenges of navigating a complex system of services and finding their place in the community. Our Mission United program is a collective effort that identifies gaps and creates systemic change in the area of health care access, education, and stability assistance.

For individual assistance and case management, contact our Mission United Coordinator.

Explore Mission United Programs & Resources

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties.

For more information on  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties’ civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact 352-787-7530; email: MissionUnited@UWLS.org or visit our administrative office at 32644 Blossom Lane, Leesburg, FL 34788.

If information is needed in another language, contact 352-787-7530.

FTA Circular 4702.1B, Chapter 111, Paragraph 6: All recipients shall develop procedures for investigating and tracking Title VI complaints filed against them and make their procedures for filing a complaint available to member of the public.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form.  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties will process complaints that are complete.

Once the complaint is received,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing him/her whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.

 United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties has ninety (90) days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties may contact the complainant. The complainant has ten (10) business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within ten (10) business days,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. A LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has seven (7) days to do so from the time he/she receives the closure letter or the LOF.

The complaint procedure will be made available to the public on the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties website at https://www.uwls.org.

COMPLAINT FORM

A copy of the complaint form in English is provided in Appendix E and on the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties website at https://www.uwls.org.

Title VI Procedures and Compliance Form

“Discrimination complaints about transportation-related services or benefits may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA Headquarters Office of Civil Rights”

REASONABLE MODIFICATION POLICY

The Department of Transportation has revised its rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It now specifically provides that transportation
agencies are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. is committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible service to its customers. To ensure equality and fairness, United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. will make reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to all of its services.

Exceptions would include modifications that:

• Cause a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others;
• Result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the service;
• Are not necessary in order for the individual with a disability to fully utilize United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc.’s services

Anyone who would like to request a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. program or service should contact:
Tracey Schoonmaker at 352-787-7530 ext 242 or MissionUnited@uwls.org

Complaints should be addressed to: Jessica Davis at jessica.davis@uwls.org