A.L.I.C.E.
The Problem
Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
42% of American Households Are Falling Behind Financially Every Month
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 or fixing the car.
A.L.I.C.E., 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. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.
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 or fixing the car.
A.L.I.C.E., 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. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.
Hiding in Plain Site
America’s Biggest “Hidden” Problem
A major issue facing America today in not what you might think! It is a silent, “hidden” problem that is everywhere we turn, and we don’t even know it. This problem is that 42% of American households are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and most have a negative cash flow. They have less than $400 in emergency savings and spend 25% of their income servicing high interest consumer debt. These are your neighbors, family members, and friends, salary, as well as hourly.
Living Below the A.L.I.C.E. Threshold
Through research from the United Way ALICE Project we can now see the percentage of households in each state which are living below the A.L.I.C.E. Threshold and it currently ranges from 31% to 51% depending on the state.
Living Below the A.L.I.C.E. Threshold
Through research from the United Way ALICE Project we can now see the percentage of households in each state which are living below the A.L.I.C.E. Threshold and it currently ranges from 31% to 51% depending on the state.
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Even further we are able to dive deeper into a county level to see the differences in the A.L.I.C.E. % in each county. The darker the blue color the worse off or higher the percentage of A.L.I.C.E. households in that county. For example, Allegheny County has 26% of the population living below the A.L.I.C.E. threshold.
Did You Know?
Did you know that there are more payday lenders in the U.S. than McDonalds?
Or how about the fact that according to the Financial Health Network, financially stressed American’s pay $173 Billion in Fees each year.
Monthly Income and Expenses
No Means To Escape Basic Survival
The Root Issue – High Interest Consumer Debt
“The average American Household is currently spending 25% of their take home income servicing high interest consumer debt.”
Unless we help these families bridge their cash flow without increasing high interest consumer debt and then helping them save for emergencies and ultimately pay down their debt, we will continue to be addressing negative symptoms of the household budget being out of balance rather than the root cause of it in the first place.
The Root Issue – High Interest Consumer Debt
“The average American Household is currently spending 25% of their take home income servicing high interest consumer debt.”
Unless we help these families bridge their cash flow without increasing high interest consumer debt and then helping them save for emergencies and ultimately pay down their debt, we will continue to be addressing negative symptoms of the household budget being out of balance rather than the root cause of it in the first place.
What Does A.L.I.C.E. Look Like?
Meet Charlene
Charlene is a northern New Jersey mother who works full time and is raising her two young sons. While Charlene works to improve the quality of area child care centers she struggles to provide for her family. Charlene is ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.