NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new program from the United Way of Reno County will highlight the issues still faced by people who work but still can't make ends meet.
"We are in the process of launching, kind of a grassroots initiative called United for Alice," said Lisa Gleason with the United Way. "It's a statewide initiative with United Ways of Kansas. Alice is an acronym. It stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed."
ALICE earns just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to make ends meet.
"These are our workers who, during the pandemic, were so important, they were deemed essential," Gleason said. "They are our CNAs, they are our restaurant workers, our retail workers, child care workers, child care providers. These are folks in our community who are doing such an amazing job, working so hard, but aren't necessarily getting the income they need to truly be supporting their families."
Over 40% of U.S. households are unable to afford basics.
"What we want to do is change the narrative around that," Gleason said. "We have 27% of those residents in Reno County who are ALICE families. That's a lot."
Another 12% of Kansas families are below the federal poverty level, as of 2021.
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