Meet ALICE

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ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)

ALICE may be an acronym, but it describes real people.  ALICE may be a college student; a recent grad who is working and paying off tuition debt; a young family struggling to pay for child care so they can work; the underemployed working less than full-time and without benefits; active duty military personnel; a family caregiver; or a senior on a fixed income struggling with health issues.

Bottom line is that ALICE individuals and families living in Hunterdon County struggle every day to make ends meet.  Yet ALICE works in jobs that are essential to the county’s economy

Why does ALICE struggle?

1. Income is falling behind the cost of living
           In households with income below $50,000: 72% feel they are falling behind
           In households with income between $50,000-100,000: 64% feel they are falling behind

2. The available jobs are low-paying despite providing essential services to Hunterdon County

ALICE works in occupations we all depend on.  However, more than 50% of jobs in Hunterdon County pay less then $20/hour.  These jobs will account for 75% of new jobs over the next decade. 

3. Rising housing costs

The US government definition of “affordable housing” is for a household to pay no more than 30% of its annual income on housing costs.  In Hunterdon County, 17,316 households (36%) pay more than 30% of their income on housing, seriously compromising their ability to afford the basics of self-sufficiency.

4. ALICE struggles to pay for essentials, has no savings, and must make tough choices 

ALICE does not plan to have a crisis.  With little or no savings, without the help of temporary assistance, ALICE does not have means to overcome things like:

         Car breakdown
         Medical emergency – personal or family
         House repair

Data Sources:  U.S. Census & American Community Survey data; U.S. Bureau of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Poverty Benchmarks: Legal Services of NJ; Monmouth Opinion polls; News reports

Click to read or download Hunterdon County ALICE presentation 

Click to read or download How United Way of Hunterdon County helps ALICE 

Click to read or download How you can help ALICE 

Click to read or download Hunterdon County Fact Sheet