Who is ALICE? ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — a group of hard-working individuals and families across Tennessee who, despite being employed and earning above the poverty line, still struggle with affording basic needs like transportation, housing, food, healthcare, and childcare.
For ALICE households and those living in poverty, daily life is a delicate balance of difficult decisions, like choosing between paying rent and securing quality childcare. These compromises don’t just impact individual families; they create lasting effects that resonate across our community.
For ALICE households, the cost of living can make even basic needs seem out of reach. The Household Survival Budget, which varies by county, reflects the minimum expenses required to live and work in today’s economy and is used to determine whether households fall above or below the ALICE threshold.
Of Tennessee’s 2,740,302 households in 2022:
14% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), set at $13,590 for a single adult and $27,750 for a family of four.
30% were ALICE. They earned above the FPL, but they did not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live.
Together, 44% of households lived below the ALICE threshold.
“Around our community, you see an ALICE individual everywhere you look. They are at the grocery store, childcare center, doctor’s office, and favorite eatery. Our neighbors struggle to make ends meet yet work hard daily,” said Tracey Dill, our Senior Director, Regional Community Impact . “United Way is committed to serving these individuals and connecting them with resources so each person can realize a state of thriving, rather than crisis.”
Tracey, along with several colleagues from our Community Impact team, attended the National ALICE Summit in New Orleans. The summit was inspirational, showing us that we are not alone. United Ways across the country are working together to escalate the voice of ALICE in each community. The data and research that is available for each county across Tennessee allows us to see which of our neighbors need just a little more support to reach their full potential. We are here and, together, we can make a difference for so many.
Here’s a look at 2022 statistics for the counties in our nine-county footprint:
County % ALICE + Poverty
Cheatham 43%
Davidson 47%
Dickson 46%
Hickman 51%
Houston 49%
Montgomery 41%
Robertson 47%
Stewart 41%
Williamson 29%
Essential partnerships
Across the nation, nonprofit, public, and private partners are collaborating to drive systems-level support for ALICE. Locally, United for ALICE partners with United Ways of Tennessee and the Tennessee Afterschool Network to bring these findings to light. Coalitions drive real change for ALICE families in Tennessee, helping them achieve stability and growth. By raising awareness, supporting local initiatives, and connecting individuals and families with essential resources, we’re building stronger communities.
Join us in standing beside our neighbors. Donate to United Way to invest in vital community partnerships that help families thrive. Learn more about Tennessee’s Report Card and the steps you can take to support ALICE families by visiting unitedforalice.org/tennessee.