Who is ALICE?
ALICE® stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE households have income above the Federal Poverty Level but still don’t make enough to afford the basics in the counties where they live.
ALICE is the engine that makes our communities run. ALICE workers are typically our child care providers, home health aides, delivery drivers, grocery store cashiers, and other essential workers we rely on every day. ALICE can also be a family member, friend, or neighbor who participates in every corner of community life across civic, social, cultural, religious, and recreational spaces.
ALICE is often locked out of public assistance. Despite living paycheck to paycheck, in many cases ALICE workers earn too much to qualify for support. Each day brings a new impossible choice for ALICE families, mired in a constant battle to make ends meet. Pay my heating bill, or buy healthy food for my family? Pay for childcare, or work reduced hours to stay home with my child?
ALICE lives in every community, in every county and city across Virginia. Financial hardship isn’t just a big city or rural problem – it’s everywhere.
Take Action for ALICE
Join United Way of Virginia as a partner in the ALICE movement and together let’s help build ALICE’s path to financial stability.
Visit UnitedForALICE.org/Virginia to dig into the data for Virginia. Use the research to drive change within your sphere of influence and share your findings with your peers to build awareness and spark change in even larger circles.
If you know of an ALICE worker or family who would be willing to share their experiences and help amplify ALICE’s voice, please encourage them to submit an audio recording at ALICEvoices.org
To include an ALICE presentation at your business, school, organization, or community group, please contact us – we are always happy to share information, stories and activities to help highlight the challenges that ALICE faces in Virginia.
Contact: Sarah Walsh: director@uwva.org