CONTRIBUTED BY UNITED WAY OF LEE COUNTY
OPELIKA — This October, the United Way of Lee County is launching Understanding ALICE Month, a monthlong effort to help the community better understand the financial challenges facing working households in Lee County and the role the community can play in addressing those challenges.
ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. ALICE households are working and contributing to their communities, but their income is not enough to consistently cover the basic costs of living.
In Lee County, 15,415 households — 21% of all households — are considered ALICE. Another 20% of households live below the federal poverty level. Together, that means 41% of Lee County households are below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they are struggling to afford the basics.
“ALICE is not a group of people who simply need to work harder,” said Tipi Miller, executive director of the United Way of Lee County. “These are our neighbors, coworkers, friends and family members. They are people who are working every day and doing their best to provide for themselves and their families, yet the cost of basic necessities can still be out of reach. Understanding that reality is the first step toward creating meaningful change in our community.”
For the United Way of Lee County, understanding ALICE is closely connected to the organization’s annual campaign. The majority of the people served through the annual campaign are individuals and families facing the kinds of financial challenges represented in the ALICE data. Annual campaign dollars help support local solutions that connect people with resources, strengthen families and help individuals move toward greater financial stability.
“Sometimes when we hear statistics like 21%, it can be easy to think of that as just a number,” Miller said. “But behind that number are thousands of people in our community. When we understand who ALICE is and the challenges they face, we can begin to look at how we can come together to make a difference.”
Throughout October, the United Way of Lee County will use its social media channels and newsletters to share information about ALICE, highlight local data and help the community better understand the people behind the numbers. The goal is not simply to share information, but to encourage the community to turn data into action.
“Learning about ALICE may be the first step, but we hope it doesn’t have to be the last,” Miller said. “We want people to see the needs that exist in our community and recognize that each of us has an opportunity to be part of the solution.”
Community members can learn more about ALICE in Lee County at www.unitedwayofleecounty.com/alice and can support the United Way of Lee County’s annual campaign at www.unitedwayofleecounty.com/donate.
