ALICE — Acronym for Assist Limited, Income Compromised, Employed.
Hopefully ALICE becomes a “thing”. Here’s why; many people make just over poverty levels of income but just enough which eliminates them from receiving any government assistance. That is the “assist limited” part.
Income compromised is the second part which addresses that whatever funds are available at any moment is in jeopardy. A sudden illness, an unplanned childcare issue or just anything out of perfect balance puts the household into stress. Financial stress is health issue as well.
Employed. That says it all. Not enough income to deal with life. So, as a result, one’s life suffers. Work more? Find a different job that pays more? Where? How? Living by a thread and ...what!
ALICE appeared suddenly, to me, and is part of United Way. The home site for ALICE is www.unitedforalice.org
Whatever your opinion of United Way, the voice of those who make just a touch too much to receive any help and struggle on their own must come together. Understanding the situation defines it. Defining economic hardship by one word — ALICE — makes the people and the voice a “thing”; it becomes real.
Above is a graphic by P. Tchermeva from 1949 — 2012 data on transference of wealth. Workers took the hit. So created ALICE, that and profiting from healthcare created a huge expense AND childcare becoming impossibly affordable hit low income families.
Obtaining stability of any kind became tenuous at best; tragedy strikes frightening often and devastatingly more regularly than desired. Such is insecurity. ALICE is insecurity. Talk. Please.
Thank you.