United Way Report Highlights the Plight of Working Poor
New York is inching dangerously close to having 50 percent of its families lacking sufficient income and resources for housing, food, child care, transportation and health care, according to a report released over the Thanksgiving weekend by United Way of New York State.
In the last two years, United Ways in 16 states have participated in ALICE, which stands for – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – to place a spotlight on a growing population of residents who are working, but struggle to afford basic necessities.
“Our report shows that this is not an urban or rural issue – it affects every corner of our state,” said Brian Hassett, CEO of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region in a press release announcing the new report. “Too many New Yorkers find themselves above the poverty line but below the economic line that allows them to provide health care and educational advantages for their children, and to save for their own future.”
In Westchester, 24 percent of the 342,557 households fell into the ALICE category with another percent falling below the poverty line. In Rockland, 31 percent fell into the ALICE category. And an additional 11 percent fell below the poverty line. In Putnam, 28 percent fell into the ALICE category and an additional 5 percent of the population there fell below the poverty line. Households that fell into the ALICE category are those that earn above the poverty level up to a maximum of $77,892 in Westchester and $77,724 in Rockland and Putnam for a family of four: two adults, one pre-school child and one infant.
“That means that nearly a third of the people living in these three counties – among the most affluent counties in the nation – are living paycheck to paycheck with no emergency savings,” said Alana Sweeny, President and CEO of United Way Westchester. “The high cost of housing and childcare eat into their incomes. You would think that someone with a $70,000-a-year plus income would be doing well, but not here. They are one flat tire, one illness away from financial disaster. And this cuts across all ethnic and age groups.”
A recent mental health study conducted by the Rockland County government showed that stressors like lack of income contributed to domestic violence, substance abuse and other mental health problems.
To meet New York’s average ALICE threshold for survival, a single adult needs an annual income of $20,496 or $10.25/hour. Yet nearly 1 million New Yorkers who work in retail sales, restaurants and home health services are paid below the ALICE threshold.
To help connect ALICE and other struggling families highlighted in the report to services, the local United Ways as of January 1 would be extending the hours of their 2-1-1 call center from the current 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The free, confidential, multilingual information and referral helpline is open 365 days a year. Specialists speak with callers from throughout the area who need help with food assistance, elder care, housing and shelters, utilities, abuse prevention, suicide, recycling regulations, foster parenting, veteran services, medical assistance and more. They hope to eventually make the service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
