Hello neighbor, my name is ALICE.

By: Cierra Ivey, Communication and Engagement Strategist, Brown County United Way

Wake up, go to work, then go to bed. It sounds like a typical day for most American households, right? However, some get time to spend with their family, go out with their partner, or even vacation. However, some in our communities don’t have that privilege—precisely, one in three households in Brown County. 9% of those households live at or under the Federal Poverty Line, and 24% are ALICE.

Who is ALICE? Friends, co-workers, or neighbors that fall under the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed category. The ALICE threshold is based on a Household Survival Budget for each county which calculates the cost for daily basic needs and the hourly and annual household wages needed to meet those needs. Unfortunately, the budget does not allow for savings, emergencies, or recreational costs. Many living under this threshold have more than one job; for some, that’s still not enough.

The latest ALICE report, released in 2020, shows more than 35,000 households in Brown County struggled to maintain necessities such as housing, food, childcare, healthcare, and transportation. The average annual ALICE Household Survival Budget for a single adult in Brown County is $23,280, $25,416 for a single senior, and $72,864 for a family of four with young children. These salaries are based on pre-pandemic data from 2018. The following ALICE report will be released in April 2023.

Imagine living on this budget after the pandemic with inflation on the rise. That’s what’s happening to families with young children, the LGBTQ+ community, young veterans, minorities, seniors, and others.

The ALICE report serves as a call to action to support individuals and families in need, stand up against systemic racism and discrimination and reduce and eliminate structural and institutional barriers to economic security. Solutions must focus on and empower the individuals, families, and communities facing marginalization, uncertainty, insecurity, and injustice.

Everyone should have access to employment with household-sustaining wages, educational opportunities, affordable healthcare, and quality and affordable housing. That’s where Brown County United Way (BCUW) comes to fruition. BCUW is on a journey to stabilize 10,000 individuals in ten years. To be a part of this change – volunteer, advocate, or donate at browncountyunitedway.org. Your investment could support a neighbor on the path to stability.