ALICE Report reveals increased county poverty

     In Iowa, 457,044 households – 37 percent of the state’s total – are unable to afford the state’s cost of living, according to the updated United Way ALICE Report for Iowa (to be released on June 26). In Jones County, 30 percent of households live below the ALICE threshold. This is an update to the initial report released in 2016 that found 31 percent of Iowa households are unable to meet basic needs.

     ALICE, which stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed, places a spotlight on a large population of hardworking residents who work at low-paying jobs, have little or no savings, and are one emergency away from falling into poverty. ALICE is a look at those who are working and earning, but are not able to afford a basic needs budget in the county in which they live. These workers are in “maintainer” jobs that fill needs in our communities including child and senior caregiving, service sector positions, clerical and custodial positions, along with a host of others that we rely on every day. These members of our communities are typically missed in traditional measures of poverty.

     The United Way ALICE Report is the most comprehensive depiction of financial needs in the state to date, using data from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Census. The report unveils new measures based on present-day income levels and expenses that show how many Iowa workers are struggling financially, and why.

     “If we are to address the needs identified in the ALICE Report for Iowa, it will require innovative collaboration between government, business, and community organizations. There’s no question we need to make this issue a priority,” said Tim Stiles, president and CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa.

     In Jones County, 10 percent of the population lives below the Federal Poverty Level. The United Way ALICE Report for Iowa shows that an additional 26 percent of households in Jones County are unable to afford life’s basic necessities of housing, transportation, food, healthcare and childcare despite having income above the Federal Poverty Level designation. These are households earning more than the official U.S. poverty level, but less than the very basic cost of living in our community.

     Stiles said, “The Federal Poverty Level doesn’t give us a complete picture of those in our communities who are struggling to make ends meet, despite holding jobs and earning income. United Way offers this report as a starting point for conversation and collaboration to address the needs of this often unseen population.”

     The United Way ALICE Report for Iowa provides high-quality, research-based information to foster better understanding of our communities. The research was led by Stephanie Hoopes Halpin, Ph.D., United Way ALICE Project National Director. Her staff collaborated with a 10-person Iowa Research Advisory Committee, which represented a number of Iowa’s colleges, universities, state departments and non-profits, who advised and contributed to this report.

     The presenting sponsor of the 2018 United Way ALICE Report of Iowa is Alliant Energy. “Alliant Energy is proud to partner with United Way on the ALICE Report to identify additional ways to support Iowa families,” said Doug Kopp, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy utility. “We hope this report inspires other businesses in our state to make a difference as well.”

 

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