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ALICE, an acronym for A sset L imited, I ncome C onstrained, E mployed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle

to

ALICE ESSENTIALS INDEX From 2007 to 2018, the average annual rate of increase for the ALICE Essentials Index was 3.3% in urban areas and 3.4% in rural areas, while the CPI increased by 1.8%. This difference is primarily due to the fact that the costs of basics, especially housing and health care, have increased, while the costs of other items — notably

manufactured

METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY. Each ALICE Report uses a standardized set of measurements to quantify the cost of a basic household budget in each county in each state, and to show how many households are struggling to afford it. The methodology incorporates new measures; the rationale for these measures, the parameters, descriptions, and sources are described in THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE … THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE HOUSEHOLDS FEBRUARY 23, 2021 The dual health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit hard for ALICE — households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, with income above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but not high enough to afford essentials in the communities

where they live.

FOOD | UNITEDFORALICE FOOD INSECURITY DEFINED. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members, and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. 1. Food is the most basic of all needs. In a country with vast

agricultural

ALICE IN FLORIDA: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 i FLORIDA ALICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The release of this ALICE Report for Florida comes during an unprecedented crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. ALICE IN IDAHO: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 i IDAHO ALICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The release of this ALICE Report for Idaho comes during an unprecedented crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. ALICE PROJECT ‒ MARYLAND ALICE Project ‒ Maryland. Key Terms. Household Survival Budget: The bare-minimum costs of basic necessities (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a smartphone plan). ALICE Threshold: The average income needed to afford the Household Survival Budget. Households below the ALICE Threshold include both ALICE and poverty ALICE PROJECT ‒ ILLINOIS To better capture the reality of how much households need to live and work in the modern economy in each Illinois county, United For ALICE provides three basic budgets, each of which can be calculated for various household types: THe ALICE Household Survival Budget. The minimal estimate of the total cost of household essentials — housing BE A “SMARTPHONE ONLY” INTERNET USER Rural/urban: 22 percent of urban dwellers and 17 percent of rural and suburban residents are smartphone-dependent. Consequences Unreliable service: Gaps in cellular service and limited data are especially

difficult for low-

HOME | UNITEDFORALICEOVERVIEWALICE TEAMSPONSORSGOVERNANCEJOIN THE

PROJECTCONTACT US

ALICE, an acronym for A sset L imited, I ncome C onstrained, E mployed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle

to

ALICE ESSENTIALS INDEX From 2007 to 2018, the average annual rate of increase for the ALICE Essentials Index was 3.3% in urban areas and 3.4% in rural areas, while the CPI increased by 1.8%. This difference is primarily due to the fact that the costs of basics, especially housing and health care, have increased, while the costs of other items — notably

manufactured

METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY. Each ALICE Report uses a standardized set of measurements to quantify the cost of a basic household budget in each county in each state, and to show how many households are struggling to afford it. The methodology incorporates new measures; the rationale for these measures, the parameters, descriptions, and sources are described in THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE … THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE HOUSEHOLDS FEBRUARY 23, 2021 The dual health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit hard for ALICE — households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, with income above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but not high enough to afford essentials in the communities

where they live.

FOOD | UNITEDFORALICE FOOD INSECURITY DEFINED. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members, and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. 1. Food is the most basic of all needs. In a country with vast

agricultural

ALICE IN FLORIDA: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 i FLORIDA ALICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The release of this ALICE Report for Florida comes during an unprecedented crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. ALICE IN IDAHO: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 i IDAHO ALICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The release of this ALICE Report for Idaho comes during an unprecedented crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. ALICE PROJECT ‒ MARYLAND ALICE Project ‒ Maryland. Key Terms. Household Survival Budget: The bare-minimum costs of basic necessities (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a smartphone plan). ALICE Threshold: The average income needed to afford the Household Survival Budget. Households below the ALICE Threshold include both ALICE and poverty ALICE PROJECT ‒ ILLINOIS To better capture the reality of how much households need to live and work in the modern economy in each Illinois county, United For ALICE provides three basic budgets, each of which can be calculated for various household types: THe ALICE Household Survival Budget. The minimal estimate of the total cost of household essentials — housing BE A “SMARTPHONE ONLY” INTERNET USER Rural/urban: 22 percent of urban dwellers and 17 percent of rural and suburban residents are smartphone-dependent. Consequences Unreliable service: Gaps in cellular service and limited data are especially

difficult for low-

ABOUT US | OVERVIEW OF ALICE PROJECT United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, shining a light on the challenges ALICE households face and seeking collaborative solutions. Through a standardized methodology that assesses the cost of living in every county, this project provides a comprehensive look at financial hardship across the United States .

ALL REPORTS

ALL REPORTS. In a collaborative effort, United Ways in several states (and more on the way) are changing the way we think about financial need in their state and across the country. Through a series of new, standardized measurements, each state’s ALICE Report presents a broad picture of financial insecurity at the county and municipal

level.

NATIONAL OVERVIEW

NATIONAL OVERVIEW – 2018. Every two years, United For ALICE conducts a study of financial hardship at the national level in order to better understand economic disparity within and across states, to track changes over time, and to inform action that improves conditions for ALICE households nationwide. The most recent national analysis was THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE … THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 STIMULUS PAYMENTS ON ALICE HOUSEHOLDS FEBRUARY 23, 2021 The dual health and economic crises of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit hard for ALICE — households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, with income above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but not high enough to afford essentials in the communities

where they live.

ABOUT US - ALICE TEAM ON ALICE PROJECT Tom Cordasco is the Senior Graphic Designer for United Way of Northern New Jersey. Cordasco primarily works on the United For ALICE team and is responsible for the layout, design, and production of all the ALICE marketing materials, including the Reports and website. Cordasco started working on the team as a freelance designer in 2015 and ALICE IN HAWAI‘I: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 i HAWAI‘I ALICE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The release of this ALICE Report for Hawai‘i comes during an unprecedented crisis — the COVID-19 pandemic. ALICE IN WISCONSIN: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 ii WISCONSIN UNITED WAYS OF WISCONSIN Wisconsin State Partners Acknowledgments United Way of Wisconsin thanks our sponsors, partners, and community stakeholders throughout the state

for their

ALICE IN MARYLAND: A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP STUDY ALICE REPORT, 2020 iv MARYLAND A CALL FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN MARYLAND At Kaiser Permanente, we are deeply committed to the health and

well-being of our

ALICE PROJECT ‒ TEXAS ALICE Project ‒ Texas. Key Terms. Household Survival Budget: The bare-minimum costs of basic necessities (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a smartphone plan). ALICE Threshold: The average income needed to afford the Household Survival Budget. Households below the ALICE Threshold include both ALICE and

poverty-level

ALICE PROJECT ‒ IDAHO ALICE Project ‒ Idaho. Key Terms. Household Survival Budget: The bare-minimum costs of basic necessities (housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a smartphone plan). ALICE Threshold: The average income needed to afford the Household Survival Budget. Households below the ALICE Threshold include both ALICE and

poverty-level

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MEET ALICE

�

ALICE, AN ACRONYM FOR ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED, IS A NEW WAY OF DEFINING AND UNDERSTANDING THE STRUGGLES OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT EARN ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO AFFORD A BARE-BONES HOUSEHOLD BUDGET. For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs - housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and necessary

technology.

When funds run short, cash-strapped households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.

WHO IS ALICE

DESPITE THE CRITICAL NATURE OF MANY JOBS TO KEEP OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES RUNNING – EDUCATING OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, KEEPING OUR AILING PARENT SAFE – THESE WORKERS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO KEEP THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS FROM FINANCIAL RUIN. ALICE is your child care worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge. The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of these fragile ALICE households.

EXPLORE THE DATA

OUR MISSION

WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE ALL THOSE WHO WORK TO KEEP OUR LOCAL ECONOMIES RUNNING CAN SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. Traditional measures of poverty do not capture the magnitude of people who are struggling financially. Our mission is to make the invisible visible by shining a light on the true number of families struggling

in the U.S

Our new metrics offer a better way to count and understand ALICE, and to ultimately inform policy decisions to affect positive change for this growing portion of our population. Armed with this data, we aim to change the national dialogue about the impact on families, communities, and all of us when financial crisis is the norm for so

many.

LEARN MORE

ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED � 2021 United Way of Northern New Jersey. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED � 2021 United Way of Northern New Jersey. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use