united for ALICE
ALICE® – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – represents the hardworking households across Southeast Louisiana that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still do not make enough to afford the basic cost of living in their parish.
united for ALICE
ALICE® – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – represents the hardworking households across Southeast Louisiana that earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still do not make enough to afford the basic cost of living in their parish.
2026 ALICE Update: Nearly Half of Southeast Louisiana Households Struggle to Afford the Basics
The latest United For ALICE data reveals that 262,504 households across Southeast Louisiana – 49% of all households in the region – lived below the ALICE Threshold in 2024.
That means nearly half of households in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes earned less than the basic cost of housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes.
Quick Stats:
- 17% of households lived below the Federal Poverty Level
- 32% of households were ALICE
- 49% of households lived below the ALICE Threshold
2026 ALICE Update:
Nearly Half of Southeast Louisiana Households Struggle to Afford the Basics
The latest United For ALICE data reveals that 262,504 households across Southeast Louisiana – 49% of all households in the region – lived below the ALICE Threshold in 2024.
That means nearly half of households in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes earned less than the basic cost of housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes.
Quick Stats:
17% of households lived below the Federal Poverty Level
32% of households were ALICE
49% of households lived below the ALICE Threshold
WHO IS ALICE?
Our partners at United Way of Northern New Jersey developed the ALICE name and measurements in 2009 to shine a spotlight on households that work hard but still struggle to afford the basics. Louisiana joined the movement in 2015.
ALICE households earn above the Federal Poverty Level but below what it costs to live and work in their communities. The ALICE Threshold includes the costs of housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes.
ALICE is the childcare provider, home health aide, grocery store cashier, cook, delivery driver, teller, neighbor, friend, and family member who helps keep our communities moving. Despite working hard, ALICE often lives paycheck to paycheck, unable to save and one emergency away from falling into a financial crisis.
The Findings Show a Long-Term Trend
The latest ALICE data shows that financial hardship remains persistent across Southeast Louisiana. From 2010 to 2024, the total number of households in the region grew by 14%, while the number of households below the ALICE Threshold increased from 219,675 to 262,504.
During that same period:
- Total households increased from 476,167 to 541,690
- Households in poverty increased from 82,225 to 91,705
- ALICE households increased from 137,450 to 170,799
- The share of households below the ALICE Threshold hovered between 46% and 52%
The data makes clear that Southeast Louisiana’s affordability crisis is not new. Be it recession, pandemic, recovery, inflation, or hurricane season, ALICE households continue to face a persistent mismatch between wages and the cost of basics.
The Cost of Survival in Southeast Louisiana
At the heart of ALICE’s struggle is a simple but devastating mismatch: the cost of basics keeps rising, but wages are not keeping up.
In 2024, a Southeast Louisiana family of four needed $87,636 just to cover the essentials – housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, technology, and taxes. That is nearly three times the Federal Poverty Level of $31,200 for a family of four.
Yet even with both parents working full time in two of Louisiana’s common jobs – a cook and a personal care aide – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by $44,996.
Hard work is not the issue. The issue is the gap between what families earn and what it costs to survive.
ALICE Across Southeast Louisiana
ALICE lives in every parish across Southeast Louisiana. Financial hardship is not limited to one neighborhood, one parish, or one type of community.
In 2024, the share of households below the ALICE Threshold ranged from 39% in Plaquemines Parish to 60% in Washington Parish.
The data gives United Way, policymakers, employers, and community partners a clearer picture of where hardship exists and how we can work together to build pathways to stability.
ALICE Across Southeast Louisiana
ALICE lives in every parish across Southeast Louisiana. Financial hardship is not limited to one neighborhood, one parish, or one type of community.
In 2024, the share of households below the ALICE Threshold ranged from 39% in Plaquemines Parish to 60% in Washington Parish.
The data gives United Way, policymakers, employers, and community partners a clearer picture of where hardship exists and how we can work together to build pathways to stability.
The data gives United Way, policymakers, employers, and community partners a clearer picture of where hardship exists and how we can work together to build pathways to stability.
WHY ALICE MATTERS
ALICE households are integral to our community. Many are the essential workers we rely on every day – from childcare educators and grocery store clerks to delivery drivers, cooks, tellers, and home health aides.
But when cash-strapped ALICE households are forced to make impossible choices – a car repair or quality childcare, groceries or medicine, rent or evacuation savings – those decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE, but for all of us.
The latest data underscores the importance of financial stability to our region’s resilience. Families already struggling to afford the basics are often less able to prepare for a storm, evacuate safely, make up for missed wages, pay for repairs, or recover from the unexpected.
When ALICE households are financially stable, our workforce is stronger, our neighborhoods are healthier, and our entire region is better prepared to weather the storms of life and nature.
ALICE VOICES
Behind every ALICE data point is a real person, family, and story
United is the Way We Build Pathways for ALICE
The success of our community depends on the financial stability of ALICE. United Way of Southeast Louisiana helps connect people to resources, partners, and programs that support youth opportunity, financial security, and healthy, resilient communities.
Because when ALICE succeeds, we all win.
United is the Way We Build Pathways for ALICE
The success of our community depends on the financial stability of ALICE. United Way of Southeast Louisiana helps connect people to resources, partners, and programs that support youth opportunity, financial security, and healthy, resilient communities.
Because when ALICE succeeds, we all win.
ARE YOU ALICE?
Are you working and still struggling to make ends meet? Your voice matters.
Sharing your experience helps build awareness, inform solutions, and show the real impact of financial hardship across our region.
HELP US HELP ALICE
Equipped with the latest ALICE data, United Way of Southeast Louisiana and our partners can better develop effective programs, policies, and investments that reduce financial hardship across the region.
There are warning signs that households struggling to make ends meet remain vulnerable, including rising costs, difficulty paying bills, limited savings, medical debt, and anxiety about the future.
But there is also a path forward.
Together, we can help ALICE households build the financial security and resilience needed to weather the storms of life and nature.
Ways to help:
Donate to support United Way’s work with ALICE households
- Volunteer with United Way and our community partners
- Speak out for policies and investments that help families afford the basics
- Share the ALICE data with your networks
- Listen to and amplify ALICE Voices
HELP US HELP ALICE
Equipped with the latest ALICE data, United Way of Southeast Louisiana and our partners can better develop effective programs, policies, and investments that reduce financial hardship across the region.
There are warning signs that households struggling to make ends meet remain vulnerable, including rising costs, difficulty paying bills, limited savings, medical debt, and anxiety about the future.
But there is also a path forward.
Together, we can help ALICE households build the financial security and resilience needed to weather the storms of life and nature.
Ways to help:
- Donate to support United Way’s work with ALICE households
- Volunteer with United Way and our community partners
- Speak out for policies and investments that help families afford the basics
- Share the ALICE data with your networks
- Listen to and amplify ALICE Voices
RELATED ALICE RESOURCES
Interactive ALICE Maps and Tables
ALICE Essentials Index
Your community needs you. Volunteer now.
AVAILABLE PROGRAMS
Imagination Library
& Shelters
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OUR PROSPERITY
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