A letter to our Community:
In Southeast Louisiana, many hardworking individuals and families find themselves in a constant struggle to make ends meet. They are the backbone of our communities – caring for us and our loved ones and maintaining our economies – yet face significant barriers in affording the basic necessities of life. ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents these individuals and families who earn above the Federal Poverty Level but cannot achieve financial stability.
The updated ALICE Report reveals that a disconnect between wages and the high cost of housing, transportation, child care, health care, and other essential needs continues to push ALICE households to the brink of financial hardship. The repercussions of this mismatch are far-reaching, impacting not only individuals and families but also the overall well-being of our communities.
While pandemic assistance programs provided crucial relief during these challenging times, they also masked the long-term financial impacts. As we emerge from the immediate crisis, we must recognize the need for support and solutions remains. The economic hardships experienced by ALICE households will have lasting effects – especially for households of color, women, and older and younger people – hindering their ability to recover, thrive, and contribute to the overall prosperity of our communities.
United Way of Southeast Louisiana, in partnership with United for ALICE, is committed to addressing these challenges head-on. We firmly believe that no one should choose between putting food on the table, having a roof overhead, or accessing essential health care services.
By harnessing the muscle of the ALICE data, we can equip ourselves with invaluable insights to power informed decision-making – be it funding or programmatic – and fuel advocacy work. This indispensable data must drive our collective efforts, ensuring they are laser-focused, highly impactful, and leave no ALICE household behind in their pursuit of stability and prosperity.
I invite you to join us in our mission. Together, we can implement innovative solutions, advocate for ALICE, and provide vital resources and services. Together, we can break the cycle of financial hardship.
Let’s stand as a force united, ensuring that ALICE households and all of Southeast Louisiana have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.
Thank you and our partners at Entergy Corporation for your continued support and commitment to our community.
Living United,
Michael