Do you know ALICE?
Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
Essential, Working, Struggling
For a growing number of U.S. households, financial stability is nothing more than a pipe dream, no matter how hard their members work. These households are ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – earning above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggling to afford basic expenses.
ALICE households:
- 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
ALICE may be your relative, friend, colleague, or neighbor, or you might be ALICE. ALICE may also be your health care provider, teacher, retail clerk, sanitation worker, and others. ALICE workers are the backbone of our economy, with the pandemic making it crystal clear just how much we need them.
ALICE Data
The driving force behind United For ALICE is our data and metrics. There were 38 million ALICE households (29%) nationwide in 2023. Combined with households below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a total of 55 million U.S. households (42%) struggle to make ends meet. When we use data to illustrate the pervasiveness of financial hardship in the United States, we can derive a Household Survival Budget, the average income that a household needs to afford housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and a smartphone plan, plus taxes. It is calculated for various household types for every U.S. state and county.
County Snapshots
The ALICE reports for Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties look very different in the 2025 ALICE Report. Visit ALICE by County and choose Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, or Washington counties from the drop down menu to see our most recent county specific data. Compare our counties with the rest of the state at ALICE in Florida.
ALICE Report
You can browse even more of the ALICE Report online at United For ALICE. Here you will find more details and be able to look at numbers for more concentrated areas, like by zip code, look at demographics, workforce, hardships, and even basic needs budgets.
United Way NWFL & ALICE
WHAT DO WE DO?
UWNWFL plans every program around ALICE. From VITA to the Sports Equipment Swap Meet and even our granting process with our Affiliated Agency Partners, United Way firmly places ALICE families at the heart of our mission.
HOW CAN YOU HELP ALICE?
DONATE
United Way of NWFL turns EVERY DOLLAR DONATED into $6 in community impact. $6 in impact that is helping ALICE families keep their lights on, feed their families, provide opportunities for their children, and remain employed.
RAISE AWARENESS
The ALICE population is not new, but the ALICE Report documents for the first time - in some startling ways – their struggles. The ALICE Report is an important tool for us all to consider as we define ourselves, our businesses, and our economy. YOU can share the ALICE Report and start talking about what this means for our community and future. Use the hashtag #MeetALICE and share the report.
IMPROVE ACCESS
Opportunities exist to help ALICE become more stable yet many people do not access them because of insufficient or incorrect information. Share what you know about ALICE and United Way’s work in providing opportunities and paths to success for ALICE families. Contact United Way NWFL and/or 2-1-1 to find already existing programs and services. Help us seek out new solutions for lasting change.