THE FACE OF HARD WORK IN SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO: UNDERSTANDING ALICE

There was a time in my life when I was ALICE — even if I did not yet have the language for it.

Like so many people across Southeastern Idaho, I was working hard, doing everything I was “supposed” to do, and still finding myself faced with impossible choices. I remember the stress of trying to stretch every dollar, the anxiety that came with unexpected expenses, and the constant mental math of determining what could wait another week and what simply could not.

At different points in my journey, support systems and community resources helped bridge gaps that felt impossible to navigate alone. Those supports mattered more than I can fully express. They gave me breathing room during moments when life felt incredibly heavy. They helped ensure I did not have to choose between basic necessities and long-term stability. And truthfully, without those supports along the way, I do not know where I would be today.

That is why the work of supporting ALICE households is deeply personal to me.

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and represents households that earn more than the federal poverty level but still do not make enough to afford the true cost of living in their community. These are individuals and families who are working, contributing, caregiving, and showing up every day, yet still struggling to stay afloat.

In Idaho nearly half (37%) of adults are ALICE and more than half (51%) of Idaho’s children live in income-constrained households.

ALICE households include childcare workers, healthcare support staff, retail employees, office professionals, trades workers, service industry employees, and countless others who keep our communities functioning. Many are balancing multiple jobs while raising families and trying to build stable futures. They are hardworking people navigating rising costs of housing, childcare, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and utilities, often without access to the kinds of supports that might be available to households below the poverty line.

The reality is that financial hardship does not always look the way people expect it to.

Sometimes it looks like a family who appears to be “doing okay” but is one car repair away from crisis. Sometimes it looks like someone quietly skipping meals, so their children have enough. Sometimes it looks like exhaustion from carrying the weight of uncertainty every single day while still showing up to work with a smile.

At United Way of Southeastern Idaho (UWSEI), we see these realities every day through the stories shared by our nonprofit partners and neighbors. We see how one temporary setback can create a ripple effect that impacts every aspect of a family’s life. But we also see the incredible difference community support can make.

When people give to UWSEI, they are investing in local solutions that help stabilize families and create pathways forward. Those investments support programs that provide emergency assistance, childcare resources, mental health services, food security, transportation support, financial education, and other critical services that help families avoid impossible choices.

But beyond responding to crisis, we also have an opportunity (and responsibility), to build systems that help prevent families and economies from reaching the point of crisis in the first place.

One example of this proactive work is the growing conversation around childcare. UWSEI is proud to be a partner in the KIDS First Coalition’s Tri-Share Model program, an innovative partnership that recognizes childcare is not just a family issue, it is a workforce and economic issue. When childcare costs consume a significant portion of a family’s income, parents are often forced to reduce hours, leave the workforce entirely, or make difficult decisions that impact long-term financial stability.

Solutions like Tri-Share create a shared investment between employees, employers, and public resources to make childcare more affordable and accessible. These kinds of collaborative systems are exactly the type of forward-thinking approaches Idaho needs if we want to create a healthy, financially stable economy where families and businesses can thrive together.

Because supporting ALICE households is not simply about short-term assistance. It is about building communities and systems that recognize the realities working families face and creating pathways that make stability achievable.

When families are financially stable, communities become stronger. Businesses experience improved workforce retention and productivity. Children benefit from safe, stable environments and quality early care and education opportunities. Entire local economies become healthier and more resilient.

This work matters because people matter.

I know firsthand how meaningful support systems can be. There is no shame in needing help along the way. In fact, I believe one of the greatest strengths of our communities is their willingness to stand beside one another during difficult seasons. None of us are immune to hardship. A medical diagnosis, job loss, rising costs, or a $400 unexpected expense can quickly change someone’s financial reality.

The truth is, many of us are much closer to ALICE than we realize.

But there is also hope in this story because every time our community chooses compassion, innovation, and investment in one another, we create stronger foundations for families to succeed. We create opportunities for stability, dignity, and resilience. We remind people that they are not alone.

As someone who has walked parts of this journey personally, I carry deep gratitude for the people and programs that helped support me along the way. That gratitude fuels my commitment to ensuring others have access to the same kind of hope and support when they need it most.

Because everyone deserves the opportunity not just to survive — but to truly thrive.