There’s new data out on a section of the population-- often overlooked: the WORKING POOR. United Ways of the Pacific Northwest just released the latest ALICE Report.
ALICE stands for: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
And it finds a record number of *working families cannot afford the basic necessities to get by. Things like childcare, transportation, rent. In 2018, nearly *half of Lincoln County lived below the ALICE threshold for survival. In Lane County is was 45%. And this was pre-pandemic.
Christie Costello is with United Way of Lane County. “We know that COVID-19 has exacerbated some persistent challenges that many children and families and communities experienced pre-COVID, due to race, geography, income,” she said.
Data shows black households in Oregon have a 60% higher rate of hardship than white households.
In response, United Way of Lane County just launched a new grant opportunity to address both immediate needs and systemic inequities contributing to health and education disparities.
For ALICE data and Oregon county-by-county interactive map: http://https://www.unitedforalice.org/oregon