If you attended United Way’s Community Breakfast in September, you may already know who ALICE is. If not, ALICE is someone you meet everyday. Perhaps ALICE is your parking attendant, the cashier where you get your coffee, the home health care aide for your parent, or the receptionist at work. ALICE is Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed.
ALICE is often working not just one, but two to three jobs to keep food on the table and their family safe. But just one unexpected incident - a tire needing to be replaced, an unexpected illness, an increase in rent - can lead to unstability and crisis.
This year, United Way of New York State commissioned an update to the 2016 ALICE report. The new numbers are interesting and perhaps reflect a new trends with moving back home with their parents instead of setting up independent households. Why? They can’t afford their own.
On September 20th, United Way held a Community Coversation around ALICE and financial stability, sponsored by Ulster Savings Bank.
The keynote speaker was United Way of New York State’s Vice President Mary Shaheen. Mary was directly involved in managing both the 2016 and 2018 ALICE reports for the state.
Following her talk, there was a panel discussion by nonprofit leaders as well as someone who was ALICE. We heard what it was like to live as ALICE and how much courage it took to ask for help from someone who had always been independent. But there is no pride when it comes to the survival of a family.
We learned of a Newburgh teen who wants to break the cycle and work. The only job that he could find is an overnight shift 2 miles from home and to get there he begins walking at midnight for his 2am shift.
United Way’s 2018 Campaign is centered around ALICE and we’re working hard to find innovative ways to provide support for families who find themselves in crisis. Through Newburgh’s ESPRI program, we are working with our partners to provide training for youth so they will be able to support themselves with a real career.
To learn more, go to www.uwdor.org/nys-alice.
