New research zeroes in on households living paycheck to paycheck, yet often with income that’s too high for assistance

Kennebec County, ME – In 2023, 40% of workers in Maine’s 20 most common jobs lived in households that couldn’t afford basics, according to new data from United Ways of Maine and its research partner United For ALICE. These workers – the backbone of every community – include personal care aides, janitors, cashiers and waiters and waitresses. 

The State of ALICE in Maine reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of households across Kennebec County that are living in financial hardship. While 12% of all households in the county lived in poverty in 2023, the new research shows that 28% – more than twice as many – were ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). Combined, 40% of Kennebec County’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023, down from 41% in 2022.

ALICE households bring in less than the basic costs of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and technology, plus taxes. Yet because their income is above the Federal Poverty Level, they often don’t qualify for assistance.

“Underestimating the number of struggling households leads to an underestimation of what’s truly required for thriving communities,” said Courtney Yeager, President & CEO of United Way of Kennebec Valley. “Consequently, entire families and essential workers may be overlooked, denied the resources crucial for their health, financial stability, and full potential – a loss that affects us all, not just ALICE.”

The crux of the struggle for ALICE families is the gap between wages and expenses. In 2023, a family of four in Maine needed $91,104 a year just to cover the essentials – over three times the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000. Yet even with both parents working full time in two of the state’s most common jobs – a personal care aide and a stock worker/order filler – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by approximately $19,000.

More state and local data is available through the interactive dashboards on UnitedForALICE.org/maine. Please join United Way of Kennebec Valley in building innovative solutions to bring financial stability to these households.