meet alice
ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget.
For far too many families, the cost of living is more than what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs--housing, food, transportation, child care, health care and necessary technology.
When funds run short, cash-strapped households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.
For far too many families, the cost of living is more than what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs--housing, food, transportation, child care, health care and necessary technology.
When funds run short, cash-strapped households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us.
who is alice?
Despite the critical nature of many jobs to keep our local economies running--educating our youngest children, keeping our ailing parents safe--these workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin.
ALICE is your child care worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. The future success of our community is directly tied to the financial stability of these fragile ALICE households.
ALICE is your child care worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. The future success of our community is directly tied to the financial stability of these fragile ALICE households.
To learn more about ALICE and see how this affects states across the country, visit United for ALICE.
The Mississippi ALICE Report, launching August 24, 2021, is a cooperative effort of all of the Mississippi United Ways, United for ALICE, the Mississippi Research Advisory Committee, and is sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
MISSISSIPPI ALICE RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Eileen Beazley, Ed.D., Excel By 5, Inc.
Elizabeth Brister, Entergy
David R. Buys, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., C.P.H., F.G.S.A., Mississippi State University
Morgana Freeman, Tallahatchie River Foundation
Cathy Grace, Ed.D., University of Mississippi
Lloyd Gray, Phil Hardin Foundation
Sarah Mason, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Chad R. Miller, Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi
Sara Miller, Hope Policy Institute
Aisha Nyandoro, Springboard To Opportunities
Kelly Parker, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Angela E. Payne, Ph.D., Mississippi Community College Board
Paula Sammons, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Mitchell M. Shears, Ed.D., Jackson State University
Linda H. Southward, Ph.D., Mississippi Children's Foundation
Rodger Wilder, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Elizabeth Brister, Entergy
David R. Buys, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., C.P.H., F.G.S.A., Mississippi State University
Morgana Freeman, Tallahatchie River Foundation
Cathy Grace, Ed.D., University of Mississippi
Lloyd Gray, Phil Hardin Foundation
Sarah Mason, Ph.D., University of Mississippi
Chad R. Miller, Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi
Sara Miller, Hope Policy Institute
Aisha Nyandoro, Springboard To Opportunities
Kelly Parker, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Angela E. Payne, Ph.D., Mississippi Community College Board
Paula Sammons, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Mitchell M. Shears, Ed.D., Jackson State University
Linda H. Southward, Ph.D., Mississippi Children's Foundation
Rodger Wilder, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Have you ever put off a medical procedure due to cost? Currently behind on multiple bills? Would an unexpected expense, like a car repair, be detrimental to your budget? If so, you could be ALICE.
Our goal is to shine a light on the financial struggles that so many Mississippians are currently facing. We want to remove the stigma and raise awareness of these hardships by sharing real stories about real people like YOU. We would love to share your story.
You would be able to tell us, and the rest of Mississippi, how hard you and your family work to live comfortably, but how your income and expenses often make that difficult. We won’t share your employer’s name or other identifying details without your permission. However, we would like to take a photo of you, to help the people reading these stories see the real faces of ALICE in our communities.
Our goal is to shine a light on the financial struggles that so many Mississippians are currently facing. We want to remove the stigma and raise awareness of these hardships by sharing real stories about real people like YOU. We would love to share your story.
You would be able to tell us, and the rest of Mississippi, how hard you and your family work to live comfortably, but how your income and expenses often make that difficult. We won’t share your employer’s name or other identifying details without your permission. However, we would like to take a photo of you, to help the people reading these stories see the real faces of ALICE in our communities.
ALICE in Louisiana
The following is a real life sample story from Louisiana.
Becoming a single mom was my decision. Now, my son is 5-years-old, and I’ve had to make some tough decisions to do my best to make ends meet. When he was younger, it was easier because I had more help.
When my mom moved back to Texas and my son started school, I decided to give up the career I had been building as a restaurant manager and go back to being a barista. It was the only work schedule I could find that would allow me to work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. while he was in school. Some people might say you would make enough to hire a babysitter, but babysitters often make more than I do. I make a little less than $8 an hour.
Now, I watch out for every dollar I spend and when I spend it. If my car breaks down, I’m not sure what we’ll do. I’m not asking for pity or even help, I’m just trying to do my best to make it work.
When it comes to paying things, I’m on time with my rent and car insurance, but everything else is usually a month behind. I look forward to income tax season. It’s the only time I can catch my breath. And then I do it again for another year. We have a strict budget at the grocery store. We go to the library a lot for books and movies. I try not to stress my son out about all of this.
I actually applied for food stamps twice but was denied. They told me I could come back and talk to one of their counselors about why I was denied, but I can’t take a day off work. If they had something open at night, maybe I could go. I’m not ripping off the government. I’m not feasting.
I would love to go to school to change my situation, but again, I can’t take a day off work. Sometimes people just need a little extra help — even just moral support. I’m happy to learn about ALICE. I'm happy that there’s a name for me now.
Becoming a single mom was my decision. Now, my son is 5-years-old, and I’ve had to make some tough decisions to do my best to make ends meet. When he was younger, it was easier because I had more help.
When my mom moved back to Texas and my son started school, I decided to give up the career I had been building as a restaurant manager and go back to being a barista. It was the only work schedule I could find that would allow me to work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. while he was in school. Some people might say you would make enough to hire a babysitter, but babysitters often make more than I do. I make a little less than $8 an hour.
Now, I watch out for every dollar I spend and when I spend it. If my car breaks down, I’m not sure what we’ll do. I’m not asking for pity or even help, I’m just trying to do my best to make it work.
When it comes to paying things, I’m on time with my rent and car insurance, but everything else is usually a month behind. I look forward to income tax season. It’s the only time I can catch my breath. And then I do it again for another year. We have a strict budget at the grocery store. We go to the library a lot for books and movies. I try not to stress my son out about all of this.
I actually applied for food stamps twice but was denied. They told me I could come back and talk to one of their counselors about why I was denied, but I can’t take a day off work. If they had something open at night, maybe I could go. I’m not ripping off the government. I’m not feasting.
I would love to go to school to change my situation, but again, I can’t take a day off work. Sometimes people just need a little extra help — even just moral support. I’m happy to learn about ALICE. I'm happy that there’s a name for me now.
ALICE in MISSISSIPPI
Julie, Jonathan, and their sons are an ALICE family from Tupelo.
My husband and I have been married for 16 years, and we have two sons, who are 10 and 8. We are ALICE.
I am a sign language interpreter, and I work part-time at a nonprofit center in Tupelo. My husband works as a painting contractor and does Door Dash at night.
Our biggest struggle is medical care. We don’t qualify for Medicaid for the kids because we make too much. But because we are both self-employed, we don’t have insurance through work, and we can’t afford private insurance.
Our monthly health care costs are about $900 to $1,000, which we have to pay out of pocket. We never delay anything the kids need, but I have had to put off procedures for myself because we couldn’t afford it.
We don’t receive any type of government assistance. We are stuck in the loop of we make too much but we don’t make enough.
We were actually starting to build up an emergency fund before the pandemic hit, but it got used up quickly. We’ve never had more than $1,000 in savings. When we get tax refunds, we usually have a medical issue that needs attention or we use it to pay off medical bills.
There just seems to always be some need that eats up our budget. At the end of the month, and sometimes the week, there isn’t anything left to save.
We don’t think about how much we don’t make often. We make enough to get by comfortably, besides our health care needs. We purposely live a bit below our means so that we can do birthdays big for the boys and make sure they have a great childhood, despite our financial struggles.
My husband and I have been married for 16 years, and we have two sons, who are 10 and 8. We are ALICE.
I am a sign language interpreter, and I work part-time at a nonprofit center in Tupelo. My husband works as a painting contractor and does Door Dash at night.
Our biggest struggle is medical care. We don’t qualify for Medicaid for the kids because we make too much. But because we are both self-employed, we don’t have insurance through work, and we can’t afford private insurance.
Our monthly health care costs are about $900 to $1,000, which we have to pay out of pocket. We never delay anything the kids need, but I have had to put off procedures for myself because we couldn’t afford it.
We don’t receive any type of government assistance. We are stuck in the loop of we make too much but we don’t make enough.
We were actually starting to build up an emergency fund before the pandemic hit, but it got used up quickly. We’ve never had more than $1,000 in savings. When we get tax refunds, we usually have a medical issue that needs attention or we use it to pay off medical bills.
There just seems to always be some need that eats up our budget. At the end of the month, and sometimes the week, there isn’t anything left to save.
We don’t think about how much we don’t make often. We make enough to get by comfortably, besides our health care needs. We purposely live a bit below our means so that we can do birthdays big for the boys and make sure they have a great childhood, despite our financial struggles.
Alisha and her two young sons are an ALICE family from Lamar County.
My name is Alisha P., and I have two young sons.
I struggle each month between groceries, lights, childcare, etc.
It’s hard not being able to work certain hours, therefore I miss a lot of opportunities due to childcare. It’s so hard being a working single mother, and it seems no one cares about us.
Some months I have just enough money for my kids to eat, and I end up eating peanut butter sandwiches myself. Some months I literally have to sell items out of my home to pay the light bill.
My name is Alisha P., and I have two young sons.
I struggle each month between groceries, lights, childcare, etc.
It’s hard not being able to work certain hours, therefore I miss a lot of opportunities due to childcare. It’s so hard being a working single mother, and it seems no one cares about us.
Some months I have just enough money for my kids to eat, and I end up eating peanut butter sandwiches myself. Some months I literally have to sell items out of my home to pay the light bill.
Romania and her child are an ALICE family from Forrest County.
My name is Romania. I am a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi at the age of 41. I originally began my studies there in 2005. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to drop out of the university in 2008.
Over the years, I have worked an array of jobs but I have always needed a roommate to supplement bills. I have been employed for the last 23 years, and the most I have ever made was at my previous job. I was a caretaker making $15.50. That’s not impressive for someone at my age.
Back in April of this year, I had my first child. I never knew I could get pregnant. I had to be off one semester to have my child and now I’m back in school. I lost my job due to not having childcare because I worked the graveyard shift and there are no daycares open at that time and my child’s father worked overnight as well.
Looking for a job was tough because of my school schedule and the times I’m available to work. No one would hire me. I was at the point where I was going to drop out of school, again, and just work to support my family. My child’s father was only able to secure a part time job but sometimes he wouldn't be on the schedule for an entire pay period.
I’m at the point in my life where I would like to settle down and have a nice, clean and safe home for my family. It’s been so rough financially for us that we would have to choose what bill is the most important and pay it and let the least important bills collect.
I am in school trying to change my financial situation. Once I have my degree, I believe employers will pay me more for my experience and education.
The mobile home I’m renting is very old and is not insulated. My power bill for July was $469 and in August it was $543. That’s more than my rent. Luckily, Christian services and St Fabian church helped me for both of those months. I go through this every summer and sometimes in the winter because it gets so cold, I have to run the heater. I just want my situation to be better for my child. I don’t want to be a below the poverty statistic any longer.
My name is Romania. I am a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi at the age of 41. I originally began my studies there in 2005. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to drop out of the university in 2008.
Over the years, I have worked an array of jobs but I have always needed a roommate to supplement bills. I have been employed for the last 23 years, and the most I have ever made was at my previous job. I was a caretaker making $15.50. That’s not impressive for someone at my age.
Back in April of this year, I had my first child. I never knew I could get pregnant. I had to be off one semester to have my child and now I’m back in school. I lost my job due to not having childcare because I worked the graveyard shift and there are no daycares open at that time and my child’s father worked overnight as well.
Looking for a job was tough because of my school schedule and the times I’m available to work. No one would hire me. I was at the point where I was going to drop out of school, again, and just work to support my family. My child’s father was only able to secure a part time job but sometimes he wouldn't be on the schedule for an entire pay period.
I’m at the point in my life where I would like to settle down and have a nice, clean and safe home for my family. It’s been so rough financially for us that we would have to choose what bill is the most important and pay it and let the least important bills collect.
I am in school trying to change my financial situation. Once I have my degree, I believe employers will pay me more for my experience and education.
The mobile home I’m renting is very old and is not insulated. My power bill for July was $469 and in August it was $543. That’s more than my rent. Luckily, Christian services and St Fabian church helped me for both of those months. I go through this every summer and sometimes in the winter because it gets so cold, I have to run the heater. I just want my situation to be better for my child. I don’t want to be a below the poverty statistic any longer.
Interested in sharing your story to help improve the lives of all Mississippians?