ALICE Working Families | United Way of the Ocoee Region

ALICE LIVES HERE

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.
Survival budget for a family of four in Bradley County increased by 23% from 2023 to 2024 to $79,332 per year.
70% of the most common jobs in Tennessee pay less than $20 per hour. However, the hourly wage for a family of four to meet minimum survival budget in Bradley County is almost double at $38.14.
77% of single mothers in Bradley County are in the ALICE population, an increase of 19% since 2022.
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

Building Community-Driven Solutions

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.