January 2017

United Ways Release 2016 ALICE® Multi-State Comparison of Financial Hardship

January 25, 2017

January 19, 2017 In 2016, United Ways in Connecticut, released their 2nd state-specific ALICE Report. ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is a household with income above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic cost-of-living Household Survival Budget. A new ALICE Multi-State Comparison, compares data across 13 states: Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, and analyzes trends effecting ALICE across the nation. ALICE lives and works in every town and city in Connecticut. The recently released ALICE Multi-State Comparison, reports that of the 38 million households studied across 13 states, 40 percent were living below the ALICE threshold. The 2016 Connecticut ALICE Update Report revealed that 27 percent (up from 25 percent in 2014)… Read More »

Equality means dignity: Report highlights how working Americans struggle

January 23, 2017

By Ali Solis and Eileen Fitzgerald January 23, 2017 This week we celebrated the contributions of a great American Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The United Way’s recently released ALICE report raises the question of whether Dr. King’s Dreams for America are achievable in today’s society. The movement that Dr. King led was not only inspirational, but it was essential. We know that his voice is stilled today, but we must continue to heed his message. United Way’s ALICE Report provides a comprehensive look at working families who are struggling financially in 13 states, and found that at least 31 percent of households in each state could not afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, health care, and transportation in 2014. While… Read More »

Engaging Local Planning to Increase Housing Options for Our Next Generation

January 17, 2017

By Richard Porth January 17, 2017 In Connecticut, like other northeastern states, we worry about the out-migration of our young, talented workers, including our sons and daughters, to other states. You might think that these young people leave to pursue job opportunities elsewhere. A number of studies indicate that this may be true for some, but more often it has to do with the high cost of housing in many of our cities and towns. In fact, as documented by the Partnership for Strong Communities, Connecticut ranks sixth among states in median monthly housing costs. The lack of housing choices that are affordable at a variety of income levels forces some young people to look elsewhere to establish their household and make a new life.… Read More »

Connecticut housing costs remain steep for many, but number of affordable units rising

January 13, 2017

By Mary O’Leary December 13, 2016 Connecticut’s income inequality remained the second-worst in the country behind New York, “a gap adding to the housing-cost burden experienced by low- and moderate-income families: like other goods and services, those who can pay more drive up costs. The United Way of Connecticut found that almost half of all jobs in the state pay less than $20 an hour, while two-thirds of those low-wage positions pay between $10 and $15 an hour. This is a problem as the amount of hourly pay needed to meet the cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Connecticut went up to $24.72 an hour from $23.02 two years earlier. United Way put out a report this summer updating ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed)… Read More »