About ALICE
What is ALICE?
For a growing number of U.S. households, financial stability is nothing more than a pipe dream, no matter how hard their members work. These households are ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – earning above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggling to afford basic expenses.
ALICE households:
Span all races, ages, ethnicities, and abilities, though households of color are disproportionately ALICE
Include workers whose wages cannot keep up with the rising cost of goods and services
Often include those who are working two or more jobs and still cannot pay their bills
Include family members who need care and assistance, which makes it harder for their caregivers to find adequate work
Live paycheck to paycheck and are forced to make impossible choices: pay the rent or buy food, receive medical care or pay for child care, pay utility bills or put gas in the car
Are part of every community nationwide
ALICE may be your relative, friend, colleague, or neighbor, or you might be ALICE. ALICE may also be your health care provider, teacher, retail clerk, sanitation worker, and others. ALICE workers are the backbone of our economy, with the pandemic making it crystal clear just how much we need them
ALICE IN LABOR
Across the communities we serve, many union members and apprentices fall within the ALICE threshold, working yet struggling to keep pace with the true cost of living. LCSA provides direct stabilization that prevents short-term financial setbacks from becoming long-term workforce loss. Supporting ALICE in labor means protecting skill development, economic mobility, and the strength of the trades.
alice at lcsa
Labor’s Community Service Agency supports ALICE households, working individuals and families who earn above the Federal Poverty Level yet still struggle to afford basic essentials like housing, childcare, healthcare, and transportation. Many union members and apprentices we serve fall within the ALICE survival budget range, particularly during early career stages or periods of temporary work disruption. Our Helping Hands, retention, and rapid response programs directly address the same core cost pressures identified in ALICE data, stabilizing families before short-term challenges become long-term crises. By turning ALICE data into direct action, we strengthen workforce retention, protect economic mobility, and ensure that working families do not fall through the gap between poverty and true financial stability.
Learn More About alice in your state
The State of ALICE in Oregon Report