Who is ALICE?
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still struggle to meet the cost of a basic household budget.
For many ALICE families, the cost of living outpaces income, creating difficult choices around essentials like housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and access to technology. ALICE households have limited, or no savings, thus no safety net in times of crisis. At the end of each month, ALICE households often face impossible decisions: choosing between quality child care or rent, filling a prescription, or fixing the car. These short-term sacrifices have lasting impacts—not just on ALICE families but on the community as a whole.
The United Ways of the Pacific Northwest in partnership with United For ALICE issued two status reports in May of 2024: ALICE in the Crosscurrents/An update on Financial Hardship in Washington and the 2024 ALICE Whitman County Snapshot.
FIFTY-THREE percent (53%) of households in Whitman County are at or below the ALICE threshold, compared to 34% of households throughout Washington state. An annual survival income for a family of four (two adults, an infant, and a preschooler) in Whitman County is estimated to be $82,212 ($41.11/hr.). The survival budget for a household with two seniors is $51,000.
The United Way of Whitman County informed its 25 local, state, and federal elected officials about these most current ALICE data to make informed decisions to support residents in their various jurisdictions. This is just one of the ways UWWC is helping to mobilize the caring power of communities to advance the common good and improve lives of all residents in Whitman County.
For the latest ALICE data
in Washington, click the button below. To view county reports, select Whitman for local
ALICE updates.
