ALICE
United Way Drives $23.6 Million in Impact
BATTLE CREEK/JACKSON/KALAMAZOO/LANSING, Michigan – United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) announced that local support and outside grants in 2023-24 totaled more than $23.6 million to drive efforts addressing financial hardship and basic needs among households across six counties. UWSCMI also said it began the next round of local allocations — unrestricted dollars from United…
Read MoreWorkers in Common Low-Wage Jobs Worse Off Than 10 Years Ago
Some low-wage workers are financially worse off today than a decade ago despite recent wage gains, according to a new report from United Way of South Central Michigan and its research partner United For ALICE. Recent wage increases for low-wage jobs have been no match for the surging cost of essentials and a decade of…
Read MoreALICE Report: Financial Hardship Rises
Today the Michigan Association of United Ways, in collaboration with United For ALICE, Consumers Energy Foundation and local United Ways statewide, released an updated report on financial hardship among Michigan households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – individuals earning above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggling to afford basic expenses. The latest…
Read MoreResponding for ALICE: Mini-Grants Presented
United Way of South Central Michigan has awarded 21 mini-grants to organizations in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo that are striving to increase the number of households living above the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold. “The opportunity to receive any funds of any kind is a blessing,” said Rhonda Ethridge of Life Cycles Bike4Life.…
Read MoreJackson Nonprofits Join JobSTAR Cohorts
JACKSON – Federal funds have made it possible for eight Jackson-area nonprofits to join JobSTAR, the business resource network led by UWSCMI. Launched in 2018, JobSTAR (Support, Talent And Retention) embeds Success Coaches Scott Walker and Kristy Warner at participating organizations, connecting employees to services and support programs so they can get beyond barriers to…
Read MoreALICE Threshold: A New Standard for Policy
NEW ORLEANS – A trip to the “Birthplace of Jazz” brought together more than 575 individuals from across the country earlier this month to discuss one centralized topic that has been a pillar of United Way work for years: ALICE. ALICE is an acronym that stands for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” These are hard-working…
Read MoreAlyssa Stewart Reflects On UW Career
After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion. Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role…
Read MorePerspective: Recovery Tide Isn’t Lifting All Boats
Editor’s Note: On this Labor Day, President & CEO Chris Sargent offers insights on the economic struggles of ALICE households – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Sadly, there are two starkly different economic realities in America. There’s one in which middle- and high-wage workers saw savings and wealth increase throughout the pandemic. And there’s another…
Read MoreHow Gun Violence Affects The Whole Community
KALAMAZOO — Many people think gun violence is something that happens “elsewhere” — some other community, some other school, some other neighborhood. So they pay it little mind, convinced it doesn’t affect them. That view can keep gun violence from being a widely shared priority. It’s also completely wrong. “Gun violence costs all of us,”…
Read MoreFiscal Year 2024 State Budget Signed with Significant Investments for ALICE
United Way of South Central Michigan applauds the Michigan Legislature and Governor Whitmer for successfully negotiating a final state budget deal that included many wins for our region and the work we do to support ALICE and the families we serve. Some highlights of the budget allocations that will benefit our community include: The UWSCMI…
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