These are working families who have difficulty making ends meet, but do not qualify for government assistance programs.
Frederick, Md (KM) The number of ALICE households in Frederick County is growing, according to the United Way of Frederick County. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Those are families who have jobs, but find it difficult to make ends meet, and do not quality for federal assistance programs.
“ALICE is growing is our community and United Way is working very hard and with our various community partners as long as you on the County Council and everyone involved in the county to address ALICE in the community,” says Landon Lombardo, Manager of Community Impact Programs for the United Way. He spoke to the Frederick County Council last week.
The latest ALICE report, using 2023 numbers, says there are 35,557 residences in Frederick County which are considered ALICE which is 27 percent of the county’s households. . “A single adult needs more than $49,000 to be above the ALICE threshold,” says Lombardo. “A family of four-in this scenario consists of two adults, and two children that are in childcare age–need more than $111,000 to afford a basic cost of living.”
He also said single parents face hardships. “Single parents are disproportionally ALICE even more so single mothers. From 2022 to 2023, 76 percent of single mothers are ALICE.”
While ALICE households are all over the county, Lombardo says they are concentrated in specifics areas. “The areas that we see the highest ALICE threshold include the city of Frederick, Thurmont and Emmisburg at 45 percent,” he says. “The city of Brunswick has the highest percentage at 48 percent.”
Even though a lot of expensive homes may be going up in the Brunswick area, Ken Oldham, CEO of the United Way of Frederick County, says some struggling families could be living in some of these houses. “I would also note that just because they are expensive homes or expensive-appearance homes, that there aren’t ALICE households living in those homes. There are basement apartments. There are townhouses that are rented. And generally speaking, if you are renting in Frederick County, you are ALICE,” he said.
Other ALICE households in Maryland are located in the Western Part of the state, in Baltimore city, and parts of the Eastern Shore, including Somerset County, according to the ALICE report.
As part to the presentation, Lombardo talked about United Way programs that help ALICE households achieve financial security. They include Pathway to Homeownership where participants receive a match of $14,000 when they save $3,000 toward purchasing a home. It’s a partnership of the United Way and Frederick County Government.
There is also the Pathway to Transportation where savers receive a $500 match for $500 they save. . This totals $1,000 for the purchase of a vehicle at Second Chance Garage. Participants must also complete a budget coaching and credit counseling course.
And there’s Ride United Network (RUN) which a network of real time, safe and reliable transportation solutions for ALICE households. It includes a free or discounted ride-sharing program, and non-profit partners providing transportation services.
There’s also Getting Ahead, where participants become “investigators” who take an in-depth look at their financial situation, identify barriers to success and build strategies for long term stability.
Finally, there is VITA, Volunteers Income Tax Acceptance, that provides free tax return preparation for those who earned less than a $67,000 in 2024.
By Kevin McManus