ALICE
We all know people who are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. ALICE is a United Way acronym which represents the growing number of individuals and families who are working, but are unable to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, child care, health care, and transportation.
Caught in the economic storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, how did ALICE fare financially? Read United for ALICE's newest Report and explore the interactive data portal.
United for ALICE calculates the cost of household essentials for all counties in Washington. These costs are calculated for various household sizes and compositions.
Of Washington's 3,013,644 households in 2021...
- 10% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- 24% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities they live
- Together, 34% of households in Washington were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
- 36% of households in Spokane County were below the ALICE Threshold
2021 Point-in-Time-Data
- Population: 546,040
- # of Households: 217,920 (3% change from 2019)
- Median household Income: $65,722 (state average: $84,247)
- Labor Force Participation Rate: 62% (state average: 64%)
- ALICE Households: 24% (state average 24%)
- Households in Poverty: 12% (state average 9%)
- 36% of households in Spokane County were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought employment shifts, health struggles, and school/business closures in 2021, it also spurred unprecedented public assistance through pandemic relief measures. In 2019, 948,380 households in Washington were below the ALICE Threshold; by 2021 that number had changed to 1,026,988.
United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, shining a light on the challenges ALICE households face. Through a standardized methodology that assesses the cost of living in every county, this project provides a comprehensive measure of financial hardship across the U.S. Equipped with this data, Spokane County United Way makes informed decisions to generate solutions that promote financial stability.
Explore Interactive ALICE Data
Access the United For ALICE Research Center for an interactive data experience that will take you through National, State, and County level data. Explore data about household budgets, and see ALICE through details related to county demographics, the cost of living, and the labor landscape.