New River Falls Rotary member Steve McCarthy, Executive Director of St Croix Valley United Way, spoke to the club about United Way's work focusing on individuals and families in the category of "Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed" (ALICE). Often characterized as the working poor, ALICE households are not able to thrive despite their hard work. The fact that the ALICE group includes one in three households in our region is as disappointing as it is shocking. United Way has plans and actions to improve the future for individuals and families in this demographic group.
Of Wisconsin households, 34% struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, food, health care, child care, and transportation. There are nearly 549,313 (23%) ALICE households in Wisconsin, more than double the number of households living below the poverty line. Combined with those in poverty, 812,273 (33%) households are not able to make ends meet in WI. The percentage in Pierce County is 37%.
While the number of households in poverty has stayed relatively flat from 2007 to 2018, the number of ALICE households has continued to increase because of the combination of rising costs and stagnant wages. Labor participation in Pierce County is 70% versus 65% across Wisconsin. Despite working and receiving financial supports, ALICE still faces a 21% gap in the income needed to be able to survive and afford the basics in WI. Of the people over 65 in Pierce County, 56% are within the ALICE definition. The costs of basic needs have outpaced wages and other income sources.
St. Croix Valley United Way programs include Success at 6, phone 211 for mental health problem, Mental Health First Aid. United Way serves as a Community Convener, and it has Non-profit Financial Partners. St. Croix Valley United Way supports Pierce, Polk, Saint Croix, and Burnett counties ALICE households. The website is www.unitedwaystcroix.org. To see county data reports, go to https://www.unitedwaystcroix.org/meet-alice.
About Steve: He says: I have lived in Hudson since 2006, though I traveled a lot for work, including working for 10 years in Green Bay but always home on the weekends. I have two wonderful adult daughters, and my partner Lori and I share our home with two golden retrievers and one cat. We love being with family and friends, traveling, volunteering, reading, gardening, walking with our goldens, and enjoying and staying active throughout all of Wisconsin’s seasons. I listen to several podcasts on a variety of topics, but my favorite is by a pair of guys who are a little bit embarrassed to be doing two weekly podcasts about Star Trek.