What We Do
ALICE
ALICE in Maine examines the financial challenges faced by residents in every county of Maine.
In 2023, 11% of Maine households were financially insecure according to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Yet this measure failed to account for an additional 29% of households that were also experiencing financial hardship. These households are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — with income above the FPL, but not enough to afford basic expenses in the county where they live.
Between ALICE households and those living in poverty, an estimated 40% of households in Kennebec County were below the ALICE Threshold in 2023. Households below the Threshold are forced to make impossible choices — like deciding whether to pay for utilities or a car repair, whether to buy food or fill a prescription.
Workers below the ALICE Threshold often perform the jobs that keep our economy functioning smoothly — they are child care providers, food service workers, cashiers, personal care aides, delivery drivers, and more. Their stories capture the systemic and structural barriers to financial stability, and the struggles and resilience of families experiencing financial hardship.
At United Way of Kennebec Valley, ALICE is our “why.” The ALICE Report, brought to you by United Ways of Maine and the John T. Gorman Foundation, serves as a guide for implementing lasting solutions to address the increasing financial instability among Maine families.
United For ALICE calculates the cost of household essentials for each county in Maine.
These costs are outlined in the ALICE Household Survival Budget, and include housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology, plus taxes and a 10% miscellaneous category.
Of Kennebec County’s 55,601 households in 2023:
- 12% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- 28% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL, but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
- Together, 40% of households in Kennebec County were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
