Updated United Way ALICE Report details size and scope of financial hardship in Louisiana
(Shreveport, LA) April 2017 – The Louisiana Association of United Ways (LAUW), along with the United Way of Northwest Louisiana and the 10 additional United Ways across the state, are excited to release an updated version of the Louisiana United Way ALICE Report.
ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, places a spotlight on a large population of hardworking residents who are struggling to make ends meet, have little or no savings, and are one emergency away from falling into poverty. In Louisiana, 723,077 households — 42 percent of the state’s total — are unable to afford basic cost of living, according to the report. In Northwest Louisiana, this statistic is actually higher than the state’s total at 45% percent.
“Since the release of the first report in 2016, thousands have come to know ALICE. Throughout the state, new partnerships have been formed to better help hard workers struggling to make ends meet,” said Sarah Berthelot, President/CEO of Louisiana Association of United Ways.
The new, updated version of the United Way ALICE Report advances information by one year and is the most comprehensive depiction of financial need in the state to date. The report unveils new measures based on present-day income levels and expenses that show how many Louisiana workers struggle financially and why.
“Until now, the true picture of need in local communities and states has been understated and obscured by misleading averages and outdated poverty statistics,” said the report’s lead researcher, United Way ALICE Project National Director Dr. Stephanie Hoopes.
The United Way ALICE Report provides parish-by-parish and town-level data, and analysis of how many households are struggling. To download the 150-page report, visit www.launitedway.org, which also features an interactive, online map that summarizes the scale of ALICE in each parish.