Who is ALICE?
In Spokane, 27% of households fall into a category known as ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are hardworking community members who earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but struggle to cover basic living costs due to rising expenses that wages can't keep up with. ALICE families are vital to our community, yet they live paycheck to paycheck, balancing on the edge of financial hardship.
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ASSET LIMITED
ALICE has no safety net for emergencies
INCOME CONSTRAINED
ALICE income falls short of basic necessities
EMPLOYED
ALICE is working, but can't afford the
cost of living
ALICE Essentials Index
What Is the ALICE Essentials Index?
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The ALICE Essentials Index tracks how fast the cost of basic household needs is rising - things like housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, and technology. These are the real-life expenses that ALICE families face every day.
While typical inflation numbers (like the CPI) track over 200 goods and services, they often don’t reflect the true cost of living for families struggling to get by. The ALICE Index focuses only on essentials and shows that the cost of these basics has risen faster than overall inflation for more than a decade.
DOWNLOAD FULL 2024 REPORT HERE
The ALICE Essentials Index reveals how the cost of basics
This includes housing, food, childcare, and more - has been rising faster than wages for years. Despite working hard, many families still can’t make ends meet. These findings highlight the urgency of addressing gaps in public assistance, adjusting outdated poverty measures, and supporting local efforts that meet the real needs of working households.
42% of U.S. households are below the ALICE Threshold — 13% in poverty, 29% ALICE.
Essentials rose by 7.3% annually from 2021–2023 - faster than general inflation. Housing costs alone jumped 76% from 2007–2023.
Even with wage increases, essential workers like childcare providers are further behind than they were over a decade ago.
- A childcare worker in 2022 earned about $18,400 less than what’s needed to meet the Household Survival Budget.
When families can’t keep up with rising costs, the impacts ripple across the entire community
From choosing between rent and medicine to skipping meals to pay for gas, the realities ALICE households face are stark. These stories aren’t statistics—they’re real challenges experienced every day in Spokane County. Understanding this impact helps drive smarter policies and more effective solutions.
Families are forced to choose between rent or food, medicine or child care - and it's only getting harder.
54% of households below the ALICE Threshold say it's hard to cover basic needs. The number is rising.
Social Security and SNAP benefits haven’t kept up with rising costs, leaving seniors and low-income individuals unable to cover basic needs.
Spokane County
In Spokane County, the rising cost of essentials is pushing more families to the edge. While Washington State overall has 35% of households below the ALICE Threshold, Spokane County's rate is even higher - over 39% of households here are either living in poverty (12%) or struggling as ALICE families (27%).
These are your neighbors - essential workers, single parents, caregivers, recent grads, and older adults - earning just enough to disqualify for public assistance, but not enough to afford the basics.
- Housing: Spokane's rental market has seen steep increases. In just a few years, the cost of a two-bedroom rental has risen dramatically, outpacing wage growth and forcing families to spend a disproportionate share of income on rent.
- Child Care: The average annual cost of full-time childcare for one child in Spokane County can exceed $12,000 - more than tuition at many state colleges.
- Transportation: With limited access to affordable public transit, many ALICE families rely on aging vehicles, adding to repair, insurance, and gas costs.
- Healthcare: Out-of-pocket medical costs and inconsistent access to preventive care create long-term financial strain, particularly for ALICE seniors and families without employer-sponsored insurance.
Traditional poverty measures miss a huge swath of families who are working - sometimes multiple jobs - but still can't make ends meet. The ALICE Index gives us the real picture: the cost of simply surviving here. And it's not just about numbers.
It’s about missed meals, postponed medical appointments, and children starting school already behind because their families can’t afford early learning opportunities.
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United for ALICE Reports
ALICE Essentials Index: The real cost of living.
The ALICE Essentials Index tracks the rising costs of basic needs like housing, childcare, and food, revealing the true financial challenges faced by struggling households. This tool provides critical insights to help communities create effective solutions for financial stability. Download Report.
2023 Washington Report
The 2023 ALICE Report highlights the financial struggles of working families in Spokane County, with nearly 40% unable to afford basic needs. Discover key insights into rising living costs and how we can support these households.
Download Report.
2024 Washington Update Report
The latest ALICE Report provides detailed insights into the struggles faced by households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. Learn about the true cost of living, the challenges of meeting basic needs, and how we can work together to create pathways to financial stability. Download Report.
Spokane County ALICE Household Budget Essentials
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ALICE Budget Calculator
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Spokane County ALICE Budget Calculator
Explore the tough financial realities faced by ALICE households in Spokane County. This interactive tool highlights the challenges of covering basic needs like housing and childcare on limited incomes.
What is United for ALICE?
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Shining a light on working families in need.
Learn about the struggles of ALICE households—working families who can’t afford basic living expenses. Discover how we’re driving change to help them achieve financial security.
ALICE Simulation
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Step into the shoes of ALICE
Experience the daily struggles of ALICE families through this interactive simulation. See the tough choices they make and gain a deeper understanding of their challenges.
