A report, conducted before the pandemic, indicates that 57% of Louisiana’s children live in households below the ALICE threshold. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. Edy Addison with the Capital Area United Way said the study took a deep dive into who these children are.
“Black and Hispanic children are proportionally higher making up the ALICE population than white children. A third of these families are children who are living in homes where there are still two parents working,” said Addison.
Addison said the report is concerning because ALICE households often earn too much to qualify for public assistance like food stamps or SNAP and that having two working parents doesn’t guarantee financial stability.
In an effort to help, Addison said the Capital Area United Way is issuing grants to organizations that can assist the ALICE population with accessing existing resources.
“So, we’re really excited to have this timely data and to link it to a funding opportunity for organizations that are able to commit to getting those basic needs met,” said Addison.
For many of these families, Addison said the means to apply for benefits is hindered. She said one way you can help is if you have a computer and internet access is to allow someone to use it to apply for services.
“Looking around at your neighbors and you’re considering how hard Louisiana capital area residents are working, just know that many of these families working so hard are still struggling to get basic needs into their households,” said Addison.
Research indicates that 42% of Louisiana families below the ALICE threshold in the Fall of 2021 often didn’t have enough for their children to eat.
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