About ALICE
The ALICE population represents working families who earn above the federal poverty level but still struggle to meet basic living expenses. These households may not own a home or a car, often lack savings, and live just one unexpected emergency away from financial crisis. Though they are employed—either full-time or part-time—their wages are insufficient to cover essential needs such as housing, childcare, transportation, healthcare, and food.
In Chautauqua County, there are approximately 55,000 households, and 46% live below the ALICE threshold—meaning nearly half of all families are struggling financially. This includes 16% living below the federal poverty level and 30% identified as ALICE.
The ALICE Experience
To help communities, employers, and service organizations better understand these struggles, United Way developed The ALICE Experience about three years ago. The two-hour, hands-on workshop simulates the real-life budgeting challenges faced by ALICE families.
Participants are divided into small groups and given real household profiles from within the county. Using a limited “budget” represented by a small bag of coins, they have just ten minutes to make difficult financial decisions—allocating money for housing, childcare, food, healthcare, and transportation—without skipping any category. They must also consider each family’s goals and challenges while staying within budget.
The goal of the exercise is to provide participants with a firsthand understanding of the stress and complexity of living paycheck to paycheck. After the simulation, many describe feeling anxious, sad, or overwhelmed—a powerful reflection of what ALICE families experience every day.
Community Engagement and Reach
The United Way of Chautauqua County has shared the ALICE Experience widely, engaging leaders and employees across multiple sectors to build empathy and awareness. So far, the workshop has been held with:
- County department heads and foundation directors
- The Wegmans management team
- Over 200 team members from The Resource Center
- 150 teachers from Falconer Central School
- The BOCES Board of Directors
- The entire team from the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union
- M&T Bank and several other financial institutions
These organizations and institutions are deeply connected to ALICE families—through their customers, clients, students, and community members, making this understanding essential to how they serve and support local households.
Why ALICE Matters
Amy emphasized that the federal poverty level, established in the 1960s, does not reflect today’s cost of living. For instance, while the 2023 poverty line for a family of four was about $30,000, the survival budget for that same family in Chautauqua County is closer to $72,000–$91,000, depending on childcare needs.
Key challenges ALICE families face include:
- Housing Costs: Over 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent.
- Aging Housing Stock: Nearly 78% of local homes were built before 1979, increasing health and maintenance risks.
- Employment Barriers: Many work in retail, food service, and healthcare support—often part-time with low wages and inconsistent hours.
- Childcare & Transportation: 60% of residents cite childcare as a major barrier to stable work, and 52% cite transportation challenges.
The workshop also explores the scarcity mindset, showing how constant financial pressure affects focus, decision-making, and long-term planning.
United Way’s Broader Efforts
Beyond the ALICE initiative, the United Way of Chautauqua County continues to:
- Support 38 agencies countywide.
- Operate 211, a 24-hour helpline connecting residents to local resources.
- Run VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), which helps low-income families file taxes and access earned income credits.
Amy concluded her presentation by reminding attendees that ALICE families exist in every community—urban and rural alike. Understanding their struggles is the first step toward creating lasting, compassionate, and sustainable solutions across Chautauqua County.
For additional information on ALICE please visit: https://www.uwayscc.org/alice-experience
