This year, through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's Housing and Economic Development Grant, The League has made 48 additional ALICE data points for Wisconsin accessible to the public—strengthening our ability to inform, educate, and advocate on behalf of our communities.
A program from United Way, United For ALICE is a driver of innovation, research, and action to improve life across the country for those who qualify as ALICE--Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. This project raises awareness about a huge but hidden segment of the community that is struggling to afford basic necessities. The success of a community is directly related to the financial stability of its members.
In Wisconsin, 11% of households were financially insecure according to the 2023 Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Yet, this measure fails to account for an additional 24% of households that are also experiencing financial hardship. These households qualify as ALICE, having income above the FPL, but not enough to afford basic expenses in the county where they live.
Between ALICE households and those living in poverty, an estimated 35% of households in Wisconsin were below the ALICE threshold in 2023. Households below the threshold are forced to make impossible choices — like deciding whether to pay for utilities or a car repair, whether to buy food or fill a prescription.
ALICE data includes key findings, the cost of basics, costs over time, demographics, ALICE in the labor force, trends in hardship, county reports, and indicators of well-being, along with additional data tools.
At
League Convention on May 14, a special financial well-being for all panel and workshop will be held to explore ALICE in greater depth. In this facilitated panel discussion and interactive workshop, you will hear from credit unions currently using ALICE data and metrics in their communities and how all Wisconsin credit unions now have access to these indicators to help shape financial wellness and community development.