United Way has released its updated ALICE report: What does the data say about West Virginia?
BECKLEY, WV (WNVS) — ALICE households or Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households are people who make just enough to be above the federal poverty line, but not enough that one emergency would not see them having to choose between which bills to pay or how many groceries they can afford. United Way’s newly released ALICE report shows the situation only getting worse.
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In the report, United Way lists 31% of West Virginia homes as ALICE households, approximately 220,000 out of the total 720,000 for the state. An additional 17% are listed as below the federal poverty level.
What is causing these households to falter though?
Trena Dacal, Executive Director of United Way of Southern West Virginia, said that inflation is the largest cause.
“So, typically we don’t see that once prices rise, they come back down again, and that’s unfortunate because people just can’t make up within their budgets, even with their additional pay increases, the costs of groceries and gasoline and childcare and all those other things,” said Dacal.
People’s household budgets have to include things like groceries, gas, and childcare, but the federal government does not take those things into account when they determine if a household is in poverty.
Dacal said that inflation needs to be addressed and prices need to be adjusted for current wages or that current wages need to catch up to the inflated prices.
She also said that more resources need to be allocated to food pantries and emergency services for these families. Dacal also emphasizes, however, that there are some resources already available.
“Our 211 Information and Referral Hotline is a wonderful resource for people who find themselves in those situations,” said Dacal. “Anyone locally can call 211 and they will be connected with someone in our office here at United Way who can refer them to a resource close to them whether that’s a food pantry or a baby needs pantry or perhaps an organization that offers utility assistance if they have a termination notice on a utility bill.”
The 211 hotline is completely anonymous and free to use. Dacal said they have seen an increase in people calling and utilizing the resources in their area in order to make ends meet.
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That said, unless we see a change in current trends, the number of households below the ALICE threshold will continue to increase.
For the full ALICE report from United Way, please check out https://www.unitedforalice.org/state-overview/west-virginia?state=west-virginia.
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