Advice For An ALICE Household
ALICE households typically earn above the federal poverty level but below the basic cost of living for their area, making it difficult to afford necessities such as housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and education.
These households often live paycheck to paycheck and may have little to no savings or assets to fall back on in times of financial hardship.
Upskilling, with some effort, can help!
What defines an ALICE household?
- Span all races, ages, ethnicities, and abilities, though households of color are disproportionately ALICE
- Include workers whose wages cannot keep up with the rising cost of goods and services
- Often include those who are working two or more jobs and still cannot pay their bills
- Include family members who need care and assistance, which makes it harder for their caregivers to find adequate work
- Live paycheck to paycheck and are forced to make impossible choices: pay the rent or buy food, receive medical care or pay for child care, pay utility bills or put gas in the car
- Are part of every community nationwide
An ALICE household refers to a household that is Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, and Employed. The term was coined by the United Way to describe individuals and families who are working but still struggling to make ends meet due to low wages, high costs of living, and limited access to resources and support services.
ALICE households typically earn above the federal poverty level but below the basic cost of living for their area, making it difficult to afford necessities such as housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and education. These households often live paycheck to paycheck and may have little to no savings or assets to fall back on in times of financial hardship.
ALICE households are prevalent across various demographics and geographic regions, and they may include individuals with diverse educational backgrounds, occupations, and family structures. Despite being employed, many ALICE households face financial instability, economic insecurity, and barriers to upward mobility.
It is important for policymakers, community organizations, and employers to recognize the challenges faced by ALICE households and develop strategies and initiatives to support these individuals and families. This may include advocating for policies to increase wages, improve access to affordable housing and healthcare, expand childcare and education assistance programs, and provide financial literacy and career advancement resources.
If you are a member of an ALICE household, do not play the victim. Do something to improve your situation. You may be working hard now, that’s for sure, but you can also look for ways to improve by upskilling. Sometimes, reading a self-improvement book or taking an online course will improve things.
Upskill yourself!
