Nearly half of the households in our community struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, food, technology, health care, and transportation.
WHO IS ALICE?
Asset Limited. Income Constrained. Employed.
By definition, ALICE families and individuals are those who make more than the federal poverty level but less than the ALICE Threshold, which is what is needed to afford the basic necessities of housing, childcare, food, transportation and health care.
We come into contact with ALICE each and every day. In fact, we probably come in contact with ALICE multiple times each and every day. ALICE brews up the coffee at the local coffee shop, freshly presses dry cleaning, tends the counter at a convenience store and even cares for the elderly and children. These hardworking individuals and families live paycheck-to-paycheck with no extra money to set aside in savings. 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.
How Can We Help ALICE?
Fox Valley United Way envisions a community where all hardworking families can support their basic needs and become financially stable and strong. Armed with the ALICE data report, our focus to support ALICE households will be to:
- Educate: Talk with community leaders, non-profit partners, business owners and the community at large about the reality and struggles of ALICE in our communities
- Advocate: Work to inform policy makers to affect positive change for ALICE community members. Collaborate with local non-profit partners, businesses, community members, local and regional leaders to convene the conversations for change. Advocate for needed resources to improve the lives of ALICE.
- Fundraise: Raise the financial resources that support programs and services for ALICE families
ALICE in Kane & Kendall Counties
2020 Point-in-Time Data
Kane County
Number of Households: 183,693
Households in ALICE & Poverty: 35%
Kendall County
Number of Households: 40,401
Households in ALICE & Poverty: 27%
ALICE Report – United Way of Illinois (unitedwayillinois.org)