42% of North Idaho households are walking a financial tightrope.
These ALICE families are working hard but falling short of what they need to cover the basic living costs consistently. Unable to save for the future, they are vulnerable to a single emergency that can push them into crisis and even poverty.
Who is ALICE?
ALICE refers to the population in our communities that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The ALICE population represents those among us who are working but due to child care costs, transportation challenges, high cost of living, and so much more, are living paycheck to paycheck. ALICE households earn more than the U.S. poverty level, but less than the ALICE Threshold. Combined, the households in poverty and ALICE households reveal the true size of the population struggling to afford basic needs.
See the updated ALICE report here.
Read a local ALICE story here.
Why it matters:
The financial stability of ALICE households directly impacts the economic wellbeing of our communities. When ALICE suffers and is forced to make difficult choices, we all face serious consequences. There is no silver bullet to solve the complex challenges ALICE families face every day.
The ALICE report adds greater depth to our understanding of the people in our communities who live each day one crisis away from falling in to poverty. We all depend on and meet ALICE every day behind cash registers, fixing our cars, serving us in restaurants and stores, and caring for our young and our elderly, among many others. Despite working, often at more than one job, ALICE earns too little for a sustainable lifestyle. No matter how hard these individuals work, an ever-increasing number are not making it and their kids, your neighbors, and our communities will pay the price in the long run.
We challenge stakeholders to consider the ALICE report and their measures as an opportunity for a new dialogue around how to make our communities viable places to live and work.
ALICE Task Force:
Our local ALICE task force meets monthly and has identified the following priorities and partnerships:
During each ALICE Task Force meeting, community organizations share resources they are providing to help ALICE families. This information is then shared with co-workers, employees, family, friends, or whoever may need them.
- ALICE Bulletin See recent bulletins.
- ALICE meeting recordings on YouTube
To connect about the UWNI ALICE taskforce, please email Nicky@uwnorthidaho.org
Since launching the first ALICE Report in 2016, many individuals and organizations have stepped up to work on long-term change with us, and we are thankful for their participation and the impact this has created so far.