Nearly 60,000 residents with disabilities in the south-central Michigan region struggle to keep up with everyday living costs, according to a new report from United Way and its research partner, United For ALICE.
Titled “ALICE in Focus: People with Disabilities,” the analysis of 2019 data looks specifically at individuals with disabilities who live in poverty or are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed (ALICE). ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to live and work in the modern economy. Statewide, 48% of people with physical, mental or emotional disabilities—more than 657,000 people—live below the ALICE Threshold, meaning they earn less than what’s needed to be financially stable. Read the statewide news release here.
Alyssa Stewart, Chief Impact Officer for United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI), said the report found that, of 137,868 people with disabilities who live in UWSCMI’s region, 43% (59,704) are below the ALICE Threshold, with 32,761 considered ALICE and 26,943 below the Federal Poverty Level.
UWSCMI’s region includes Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson and Kalamazoo counties; this report also includes Barry County because it’s combined with Calhoun County under the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Samples, on which the ALICE analysis is based.
“Today is the 32nd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. In that light, it’s troubling to see how far our society still has to go to make sure support systems are in place so every person in this population can thrive,” Stewart said. “At United Way, we’re working to raise awareness and partner in our communities so these individuals have access to quality education, jobs and critical supports.”
Stewart pointed out that income eligibility for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are nearly four decades out of date, shutting out many people from a much-needed financial lifeline. “Using ALICE data that takes into account the actual cost of living would go a long way towardsupports addressing the issues this data highlights,” she said.
According to the new report, 46% of Michigan residents with disabilities below the ALICE Threshold did not receive SSI. The program requires that recipients have income below the poverty level, be unable to work, have a “severe” impairment and have less than $2,000 in their bank accounts, $3,000 if they are a married couple. Here are specific county findings in UWSCMI’s region:
Other statewide findings from the report:
- Black and Hispanic residents with disabilities — 65% and 54%, respectively — disproportionately experienced financial hardship compared to 43% of white people with disabilities.
- Females with disabilities struggled more to afford the basics — 51% — compared to 44% of males with disabilities.
- Among Michigan residents with disabilities who own a home, 84% are house burdened, meaning they spend 35% or more of their income on their mortgage, plus utilities, taxes and insurance. For renters with disabilities, 93% are rent burdened, with 35% or more of income going to rental costs.
- Whether working full or part time, people with disabilities were more likely to be living paycheck to paycheck than those without disabilities: 21% of full-time workers with disabilities were below the ALICE Threshold compared to 16% of full-time workers without disabilities. For part-timers, 53% of those with disabilities were below the ALICE Threshold, while 36% without disabilities fell below that level.
More data is available through the “ALICE in Focus: People With Disabilities”interactive data dashboard, which provides filters for regional and local geographies, age, race, disability status, living arrangements and household work status. Visit https://www.unitedforalice.org/Focus-Disabilities.
As part of raising awareness, Stewart said UWSCMI, the Michigan Association of United Ways and United Ways across the state, in partnership with local Centers for Independent Living, are kicking off the 21-Day Disability Equity Challenge on Aug. 1. This effort explores disability from a position of equity and pride by increasing understanding and shifting perspectives about disability. Anyone can sign up to receive informative emails for 21 consecutive weekdays during the month. Register online at tinyurl.com/22disabilitychallenge.
“The more each of us learns about the day-to-day financial challenges that people with disabilities face, the better equipped we are to remove barriers and make our communities better for everyone,” Stewart said.
“ALICE in Focus: People with Disabilities” marks the second installment in the ALICE in Focus Research Series, which draws from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS). Each installment highlights a specific segment within the ALICE demographic. The first installment, released in April, focused on children. The next report will feature veterans. ALICE reports in Michigan are led by the Michigan Association of United Ways with funding from Consumers Energy Foundation.