The federal poverty level fails to support everyone who needs help. Income and family size draw a line for benefits like food stamps, rent assistance and childcare vouchers.
But United Way found that the population segment immediately outside federal poverty also needs assistance. These are families living paycheck to paycheck who must sacrifice one necessity for another—food or utilities, transportation or childcare.
Through a study in New Jersey, United Way created the designation of ALICE households. It stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
Amber Miller, CEO of United Way of North Central Florida (UWNCF), said leaders in Florida were quick to recognize the importance of assisting these ALICE households. For the last decade, she said, United Way organizations in Florida have provided funds to study this group.
She said these families, or individuals, are just a single incident or delay from dropping into the federal poverty limits. And while the federal poverty level has remained flat in Florida since 2013, the ALICE level has risen by over 600,000 households, United Way reports.
“I would say back in 2023 is when our organization really kind of took a stand and said, ‘we have to focus on ALICE.’ We’re watching the data. We’re watching the gap get bigger and bigger, and there’s no resources for this group,” Miller said.
According to United Way data, the household survival budget for a single adult aged 25 to 64 years old totals $2,817 per month or $33,804 per year. For a family of four, the survival budget jumps to $7,224 per month or $86,688 per year.
Alachua County households have a median income of $61,488 per year, short of the Florida median of $73,311. United Way reports that the county has more households in poverty than the state average (19% compared to 13%) but also has fewer households within the ALICE threshold (28% compared to 34%).
When combined, United Way’s data shows 47% of Alachua County households need assistance.
However, Miller and UWNCF covers six counties in the area, Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy and Union.
Looking at the whole section, three counties average above and three counties average below the number of households in the ALICE threshold—all six counties had a higher percentage within the federal poverty level.
Miller said the approach to the rural counties, especially in the tri-county area, has focused on disaster relief after damaging hurricane seasons. United Way partnered with the Tri-County Community Resource Center and continues to meet on a bi-weekly basis to hear cases and distribute aid to help families get on their feet.
“It seems weird to focus on disaster resilience, but it’s also not weird because we need it,” she said.
United Way received a grant from the Red Cross to support its efforts and hire a disaster recovery coordinator for the area, and Miller said the work involves a multitude of collaborations with Three Rivers Legal Service, the Center for Independent Living, the Florida Division for Emergency Management and church groups.
Miller said as question marks remain over the future of FEMA assistance (Federal Emergency Management Agency), United Way and other partners are creating plans to support residents. She said local governments and organizations may have to bear more of the brunt from storms.
Within Alachua County, Miller said United Way has focused on providing education and data to the wealth of nonprofits and charity organizations, along with regular business owners.
She said the Children’s Trust of Alachua County started incorporating ALICE data into their analysis and launched a program this year to assist with childcare costs. Daycare and after-school care can be the largest monthly cost for families, and Miller said that’s a big hit for a family that rises above the poverty level, loses childcare vouchers and then must pay a second rent.
“It’s insane. Families are paying the same or more for childcare as they are for their rent and mortgage. That’s how expensive it’s become,” Miller said.
She said if employers allow hybrid work, employees can immediately see savings. It can be an employee benefit that shows the business cares about its staff, and Miller said that can fuel more loyalty.
Miller said United Way had to practice these lessons itself. When the COVID-19 pandemic happened, the nonprofit transitioned all employees from desktops to laptops to allow hybrid work. Even now, if an employee has a family issue, the change to laptops provides flexibility.
By making local business owners aware of challenges faced by staff—and providing transparent ALICE data to show what income levels need help—Miller said United Way hopes to increase conversation around helping families that, while employed and working, still need assistance to reach a secure financial footing.
“The mission of it is: we want everybody to be aware of it, and we want everybody to use it,” Miller said. “We want this to be a household name. We want people to know exactly what it means and however they can support it.”
