What is ALICE?

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It describes households that work hard and earn above the Federal Poverty Level, yet still don’t make enough to afford basic necessities like housing, childcare, food, healthcare, and transportation. For a growing number of families across the U.S., this gap between wages and the true cost of living makes financial stability feel perpetually out of reach—even while they’re employed.

ALICE in Mason County

Mason County residents are not immune to the impacts of the affordability crisis. In fact, 28% of Mason County households are identified as ALICE—above the state average of 27%. When combined with the county’s 13% poverty rate, this means that nearly half of our neighbors (41%) are struggling to afford essential expenses such as car repairs and housing costs.

To learn more about the ALICE population in Mason County, explore the resources below, provided by United for ALICE and United Way of Northern New Jersey.