ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget that covers all necessities.
For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs - housing, food, transportation, childcare, healthcare, and necessary technology.
When funds run short, cash-strapped households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.
WHO IS ALICE
Despite the critical nature of many jobs to keep our local economies running – educating our youngest children, keeping our ailing parent safe – these workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin.
ALICE is your childcare worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home-health aide, an office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge.
REQUEST AN ALICE SPEAKER
United Way of Sumner County is happy to share our ALICE information with groups who want to learn more about the needs in our community, fully understand and know what they can do to advocate for ALICE, and see what we are doing locally to meet the needs of ALICE. If you would be interested in having us speak to your employees, a civic organization, members of an association or group, etc., click here to request a UWSC ALICE speaker.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALICE
2022 "ALICE In Focus: Veterans" Sumner County Summary Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The third in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Veterans" finds that though they've served and sacrificed for our country, many veterans are living paycheck to paycheck. This report compiles the data for Sumner County, Tennessee.
2022 "ALICE In Focus: Disabilities" Sumner County Summary Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The second in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Disabilities" finds that traditional measures hide the full extent of financial hardship for those with cognitive, hearing, vision, or ambulatory disabilities or one that makes self-care of independent living difficult. This report compiles the data for Sumner County, Tennessee.
2022 "ALICE In Focus: Children" Sumner County Summary Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The first in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Children" finds that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of children of all races, ages 18 and younger, who are growing up in households that struggle to meet their basic needs. This report compiles the data for Sumner County, Tennessee.
2020 ALICE Sumner County Summary - This report based on 2018 data details overall ALICE demographic data by household, zip code, county commission district, and more.
2022 ALICE In Focus: Veterans, Tennessee Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The third in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Veterans" finds that even though they have sacrificed and served our country, many veterans are living paycheck to paycheck. This report compiles the data for the state of Tennessee.
2022 ALICE In Focus: Disabilities, Tennessee Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The second in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Disabilities" finds that traditional measures hide the full extent of financial hardship for those with cognitive, hearing, vision, or ambulatory disabilities or one that makes self-care of independent living difficult. This report compiles the data for the state of Tennessee.
2022 ALICE In Focus: Children, Tennessee Report - .pdf: The ALICE In Focus series analyzes the most recent data from 2019 and highlights specific segments of the ALICE demographic. The first in the series, "ALICE in Focus: Children" finds that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of children of all races, ages 18 and younger, who are growing up in households that struggle to meet their basic needs. This report compiles the data for the state of Tennessee.
2020 ALICE In Tennessee Report - .pdf: The 2020 ALICE in Tennessee Report provides a statewide overview of ALICE demographics in the state, the cost of living in Tennessee, and the changing landscape of work for state residents. The report provides an overall picture of economic conditions for the ALICE population by county; health, education, and social factors impacting our residents; and data for determining next steps.
The Pandemic Divide - pdf: Before the pandemic, 42% of U.S. households were already unable to make ends meet. This includes households in poverty and those that are ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). With income above the Federal Poverty Level, ALICE households earn too much to qualify as “poor” but are still unable to cover basic household expenses in the counties where they live.
Our Report, The Pandemic Divide: An ALICE Analysis of National COVID Surveys, reveals that ALICE families fared significantly worse than higher income households during the pandemic — financially, physically, and emotionally.
United for ALICE Interactive Website: The United for ALICE project has conducted studies of economic hardship in more than 20 states. This website allows you to view National reports, State reports, and reports by Special Topic. There is also an interactive Wage Tool that allows you to explore the ALICE Household Survival Budget for various sizes of family and and an interactive Legislative District Tool that allows you to see the percent of households living under the ALICE threshold in each district.
Research Center for Tennessee: This interactive website allows you to view 2018 data for Tennessee by household type and by county. Information on the site includes historical data from 2010-2018.
Research Center for ALICE in Focus Children: This website allows you to explore data from the ALICE in Focus: Children report by state and a variety of categories and subcategories including age, race, living arrangement, housing, etc.
Research Center for ALICE in Focus Disabilities: This website allows you to explore data from the ALICE in Focus: Disabilities report by state and a variety of categories and subcategories including age, race, disability type, living arrangement, education, labor status, etc.
Research Center for ALICE in Focus Veterans: This website allows you to explore data from the ALICE in Focus: Veterans report by state and a variety of categories and subcategories including age, race, disability status, living arrangement, education, work status, etc.