Building powerful partnerships that improve outcomes for children, families, and individuals in need.
Phone: (208) 232-1389
Email: uwsei@unitedwaysei.org
United Way of Southeastern Idaho
101 N. Main St. Pocatello, ID 83204
A.L.I.C.E.
DO YOU KNOW A.L.I.C.E?
Asset-limited, Income-Constrained, Employed
MEET ALICE—Working, Striving, Falling Behind
At the United Way of Southeastern Idaho, our mission is centered around helping people we call ALICE. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are individuals who work hard at important jobs, such as childcare educators, home health aides, and cashiers, yet they still struggle to cover basic living expenses. Even though they earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, they live paycheck to paycheck and are just one emergency away from financial disaster.
For many Southeastern Idaho households, achieving financial stability seems impossible, no matter how hard they work. These families are crucial to our community, but they face daily challenges that can prevent them from reaching long-term stability. At United Way, we aim to provide connect the resources and assistance ALICE families need to thrive. Your support helps make this possible and creates a stronger, more resilient community for everyone.
DO YOU KNOW ALICE
ALICE makes too much, and not enough.
ALICE in Focus: Our Idaho Kids
Together we can rewrite the story for ALICE children in Idaho.
Please join us with intention and an open mind as we uncover the tough realities of children in Idaho – and gain the insights needed to change the narrative, together.
New ALICE in Focus: Children research launching today reveals that in 2022, nearly 235,00 Idaho children — 51% — lived in financially insecure households. This includes 13% whose families lived in poverty, and another 38% living in struggling ALICE households. ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but less than the cost of basics in their communities.
For our state’s Black and Hispanic children, the stakes are even higher — 75% and 71%, respectively, lived in financially strapped families in 2022. And across all races/ethnicities, just over 180,000 children in struggling families didn’t access the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — in large part because ALICE households often don’t qualify for public assistance.
This doesn’t have to be their story. Together, we can rewrite the narrative for our children and build a foundation of hope and opportunity.
“Undercounting the number of children living in hardship in our state not only masks the true scale of the issue but also hinders our ability to provide the necessary support and resources,” said Tennille Call, Director of Education, UWSEI. “Without these, our children are at risk of falling behind in school, facing health issues, and missing out on opportunities to flourish as they grow. This data is a powerful tool.”
LEARN MORE AND TAKE ACTION — Discover Interactive Online Dashboards
The challenges Idaho’s ALICE families face are interconnected, and effective solutions must be, too. Working toward these solutions will require innovation and vision.
Marisol's Story
The Power of Community and Giving
In Aberdeen, Idaho, Marisol, a hardworking mother of four, faced unbearable tooth pain that disrupted her daily life. With the rising costs of living, Marisol couldn’t afford dental insurance and had no transportation to get to a dentist.
During a rural outreach event, the Pocatello Free Clinic (PFC) brought their mobile clinic to Aberdeen. This mobile clinic travels to rural areas to provide essential medical and dental care. At the mobile clinic, a dental hygienist examined Marisol’s teeth and took X-rays, which were sent to a dentist. The dentist quickly identified a serious tooth infection that required immediate attention.
Understanding Marisol's urgent need, PFC staff scheduled her an appointment at their Pocatello clinic. However, Marisol still had no means of transportation. Thanks to the United Way's Ride United Program, Marisol was provided with transportation from Aberdeen to Pocatello and back. She saw the dentist and received the necessary treatment promptly.
Marisol’s story shows the power of community support and giving. Donations to the community fund enable programs like rural outreach and support for uninsured community members through the Pocatello Free Clinic. These programs ensure that people like Marisol can access essential healthcare services, leading to healthier, quality lives.
Your donations make these vital services possible. Together, we can ensure everyone has the opportunity to receive the healthcare they need.
Amanda's Story
“I experienced something I had never imagined. After being released from the Portneuf Medical Center Behavioral Unit in Pocatello, I found myself and my son homeless and jobless, this was a stark and frightening reality. The kind nursing staff at the hospital recommended that I stay at the Aid for Friends Emergency Shelter. It was hard to walk through those doors but once I did, I felt immediate relief. The facility was clean, new, and secure. The staff at AFF helped me to develop a plan. Through that plan I was able to secure employment and applied for housing assistance. I utilized the shelter services for about two months. Aid For Friends provided basic furnishings for my apartment. Aid For Friends provided me the tools to get my life back on track…I have never asked for help before in my lifetime, I am very grateful it was there when I needed it. I will always be grateful.”
