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You are about to put yourself in the shoes of a typical ALICE® family. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are those that have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. In other words, they are struggling to make ends meet. 28 percent of Texas families are ALICE. Combined with households that fall below the federal poverty line, 42 percent of Texas families do not earn enough money to meet the Texas ALICE Household Survival Budget.

We see ALICE every day – hard workers who keep the Texas economy running. We find ALICE working behind cash registers, serving us in restaurants and retail stores, and caring for our young and elderly. But these low-wage jobs do not pay enough for ALICE to live on.

For the next few minutes, you'll experience some of the tough choices that these families have to make every single day and how United Way is doing all that we can to help them along the way.

You and your partner have two small children — one infant and one preschooler. After an unexpected layoff at your place of employment, you find yourself scrambling to find a new job. Your partner’s monthly earnings are $2000.

But there is some good news. You've had a few interviews lately that have been really successful, and you have three job opportunities. You are feeling optimistic about the opportunities and what this means for your family.

Choose your Job

  • Retail Salesperson

    $10.77/hour, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday

    62 percent of jobs pay less than $20 per hour, with two-thirds of those paying between $10 and $15 per hour Learn More

    The most common occupation in Texas is retail salespersons. There are more than 383,080 retail sales jobs in Texas, paying on average of $10.77 per hour. This salary falls short of meeting the family Household Survival Budget by more than $30,000 per year. Close

  • Office Clerk

    $15.11/hour, part time, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4 days per week

    62 percent of jobs pay less than $20 per hour, with two-thirds of those paying between $10 and $15 per hour Learn More

    A full-time job that pays $15 per hour grosses $30,000 per year, which is just over half of the Household Survival Budget for a family of four in Texas. The hourly wage necessary to support a family budget is $26.48 for one parent working 40 hours per week. Close

  • Personal Care Aide

    $8.91/hour, 2nd shift, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., days per week varies

    Workers who hold second-shift jobs and have inconsistent schedules are often faced with difficulty finding child care and transportation. Learn More

    ALICE workers hold many important jobs in our community like: Retail Sales, Waitstaff, Home Health Aides, Office Clerks, Receptionists, Teacher Assistants and Childcare Workers. The hourly wage necessary to support a family budget is $26.48 for one parent working 40 hours per week. Close

Decide where you're going to live

  • Single-Family Homeowner

    Small house with 3 bedrooms

    ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 30% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food and health care. Learn More

    47% of renters and 21% of homeowners in Texas are considered housing burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third of their income on housing. This means less money to pay for other necessities such as child care, transportation, food and health care. Close

  • Apartment Rental 1

    2-bedroom unit in a large complex

    ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 30% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food and health care. Learn More

    47% of renters and 21% of homeowners in Texas are considered housing burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third of their income on housing. This means less money to pay for other necessities such as child care, transportation, food and health care. Close

  • Apartment Rental 2

    2-bedroom unit in an old house

    ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 30% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food and health care. Learn More

    47% of renters and 21% of homeowners in Texas are considered housing burdened, meaning they spend more than one-third of their income on housing. This means less money to pay for other necessities such as child care, transportation, food and health care. Close

Choose your Childcare

  • Accredited Center-Based Childcare

    Your children are cared for in a high-quality center with social development and a structured early learning curriculum.

    Licensed child care centers are regulated to meet more detailed standards of quality care than home-based care, and they are significantly more expensive. Learn More

    Child care accounts for nearly 23% of the Household Survival Budget and is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold. Close

  • Licensed Home-Based Childcare

    Your children are cared for by a licensed individual with other children.

    Child care accounts for nearly 23% of the Household Survival Budget and is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold. Learn More

    Those ALICE families that do receive assistance are often faced with difficult choices around career advancement - sometimes passing up opportunities to move up at work because they can't afford to earn more money. Close

  • Family, Friends and Neighbors

    Your children are watched in your home or theirs, requiring you to cover basic expenses.

    Child care accounts for nearly 23% of the Household Survival Budget and is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold. Learn More

    Those ALICE families that do receive assistance are often faced with difficult choices around career advancement - sometimes passing up opportunities to move up at work because they can't afford to earn more money. Close

Choose your Transportation

  • Car

    You and your partner have one car that is paid for. You have to pay for insurance and gas every month.

    In most Texas counties, there is no public transportation available to workers, which makes it essential for most households to own a car. Without one, it's difficult to get to work, shop for food or transport kids to childcare, school or other activities. Learn More

    Families struggling with insufficient income may not be able to lease or buy a car or find housing near public transit. Close

  • Bus

    You and your partner each have a monthly bus pass.

    In most Texas counties, there is no public transportation available to workers, which makes it essential for most households to own a car. Without one, it's difficult to get to work, shop for food or transport kids to childcare, school or other activities. Learn More

    In almost all counties in the state, an average of only about 1 percent of workers use public transportation to get to their jobs. Close

Choose your Food

  • Fresh

    All of the freshest and healthiest options available to you including name brands

    ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it. Learn More

    According to Feeding America in Taxas, 4,217,470 people are struggling with hunger and of them 1,658,680 are children. Close

  • Mix

    A combination of fresh and frozen options with a mix of name brands and bargain brands

    ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it. Learn More

    Many ALICE families make too much money for SNAP benefits (food stamps) but cannot afford to purchase enough healthy food for nourishing meals. Feeding America estimates that 20% children in Texas are food insecure. Close

  • Low Cost

    Limited amounts of healthy options with lots of frozen and processed foods and bargain brands

    ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it. Learn More

    More than 55% of Texas households receiving SNAP benefits (food stamps) have children yet many ALICE families are not eligible for SNAP because they make too much money. Feeding America estimates that 20% of children in Texas are food insecure. Close