For thousands of families in our six-county region, it’s not one big emergency causing sleepless nights. It’s the grocery bill. The rent increase.The child care payment that keeps getting harder to manage.
New data from United For ALICE, released today in partnership with United Way of South Central Michigan, shows just how many households are being pushed further behind.
In 2024, 39% of households in Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson and Kalamazoo counties were living below the ALICE Threshold — meaning they couldn’t afford the basics, even if they were working. These include families in poverty and ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families with income above the Federal Poverty Level but less than the cost of essentials.
ALICE is our neighbor and friend, deeply woven into the fabric of community life across civic, social, cultural, religious, and recreational spaces. And ALICE workers keep our communities running every day: caring for children and older adults, stocking shelves, preparing meals, helping customers, and more.
What’s making it even harder? The cost of household basics has been rising over time. The ALICE Essentials Index tracks the change in the cost of basics, which families can’t skip — housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. In Michigan, the ALICE Essentials Index climbed faster than overall inflation from 2007-2024 as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
For ALICE households, that means every dollar has to stretch even further.
But this new data is more than a snapshot of hardship. It’s a tool for action. When we understand what families are really facing, we can make better decisions as neighbors, employers, policymakers, and local leaders to build stronger communities where all households can thrive.
We encourage you to start that journey of learning and action. Visit our Meet ALICE webpage, unitedforscmi.org/alice, to see how you can help raise awareness, inform local decisions, and build a brighter, more financially stable future for ALICE and for all.
If you see yourself in ALICE and want to share your story, please contact us at marketing@uwscmi.org.
