ALICE Working Families

ALICE IS 47% OF US.

Co-workers. Neighbors. Caregivers. Service Providers. Working hard every day - and still falling short. 

And they can't wait. At United Way of the Ocoee Region, we're turning data into action for the families who keep our community running.

Who is ALICE?

ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. 

The ALICE population is made up of working families earning just above the poverty level, but still living paycheck to paycheck, often one crisis or unexpected circumstance away from a spiral into poverty. These struggling households are forced to make impossible choices everyday between the basics of housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare and more. ALICE households are a target population for the United Way’s funding and internal programming. With your support, we can help these families reach stability.

Local ALICE Statistics

While conditions have improved for some families, many continue to struggle, especially as wages fail to keep pace with the rising cost of household essentials, such as housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care. Households below the ALICE threshold, in addition to those in poverty, often can't afford the essentials.

  • ALICE families collectively represent 47% of the Ocoee Region's population ... essentially 1 in 2 local households at at ALICE level or below. This number is more concentrated in certain areas and populations. For example, 75% of those living in East Cleveland, and an average of 78.5% of single female-headed households in the Ocoee Region are ALICE or below.

  • Survival budget for a family of four in Bradley County is $82,272, an increase of nearly $18,000 in just a two year period.

  • The median household income in the Ocoee Region is $60,607, a gap of over $20,000 for a family of four to cover the cost of their most basic monthly expenses.

  • ALICE families commonly lack access to affordable housing, quality childcare and other resources and are often severely rent burdened, spending a third or more of their income on rent alone.

 

Working Families in the Ocoee Region

Understanding the needs of ALICE families is only the first step. Creating real, lasting stability requires a united community working together to support families as they move toward financial security. United Way of the Ocoee Region serves as both a safety net and a pathway forward, helping ALICE households meet immediate needs while building long-term stability.

We do this by investing in strategically-aligned local nonprofit programs that provide essential services and resources across our region. We also go a step further by operating strategic internal programs designed to fill critical gaps in local services where needs are greatest.

Ocoee Connect serves as our local resource and referral hotline, offering assistance with utilities and housing, as well as connections to food, child care, mental and dental care, family services, and legal aid. When we’re unable to provide a service directly, we ensure callers are connected to trusted local agencies with the most current information—helping families navigate challenges during times of need.

Housing United is a collaborative, rapid rehousing–based initiative focused on preventing and ending homelessness. Developed in response to rising housing instability identified by our Community Needs Identification Committee and local Housing Coalition, this program brings partners together to help individuals and families secure stable housing and move toward long-term self-sufficiency.

Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to standing with ALICE families, offering coordinated support, strengthening community systems, and creating opportunities for lasting change.

ALICE

The State of ALICE in Tennessee

Bradley County ALICE Data (select "County Reports" and drop down to Bradley)

Polk County ALICE Data (select "County Reports" and drop down to Polk)

ALICE in the Crosscurrents (2024 Update)

 

The ALICE Survival Budget represents a modest, conservative estimate of the cost of basic needs. The following is an example of the true cost of living in Bradley County for a typical ALICE household.

Police Officer + Teacher + 2 Children in Childcare

EXPENSES:
Housing - $2,000
Childcare - $2,000*
Food - $1,500
Transportation - $1,200
Healthcare/Hygiene - $900
Technology - $250
Taxes - $550
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES = $8,100

INCOME:
Annual Salary 1 - $48,000
Annual Salary 2 - $50,000
Combined = $47.12 per hour
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME = $8,167

KEY CHALLENGES

  • Housing expense assumes a rental, so payments are not building equity

  • Assumes no debt payments other than transportation (i.e., student loans, credit cards, etc.)

  • Balancing each month on a tight budget, with little to no margin 

  • No cushion for miscellaneous, unexpected or emergency expenses 

  • No opportunities to build savings for the future

*Childcare expenses alone force some families to consider reducing to a single income to save costs, effectively reducing our region’s available workforce.

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