What We Do
ALICE Report 2025
ALL ABOUT ALICE IN 2025
The latest ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report reveals that the annual cost to make ends meet for a family of four with an infant and a toddler has surged past $100,000 in our region. And that’s just a microcosm of the difficulties facing nearly 660,000 people in our region who live below the ALICE threshold. The new data from United Way Suncoast and its research partner, United For ALICE, crystallizes the dynamics of an uncertain economy, housing expenses, and the failure of wages to keep pace with the cost of living. Clearly, the challenges continue to mount for Florida households living paycheck to paycheck. But United Way Suncoast’s focus on Educational Opportunity, Financial Security and Community Resiliency creates an interconnected path that empowers individuals with the Freedom To Rise. Visit http://www.unitedforalice.org/florida to learn more about the report. Sign up for an ALICE presentation to the right, and check out our new additions to this page.
WE TALK ALICE
Would you like someone from United Way Suncoast to give an ALICE presentation to your organization?
ALICE IN THE LABOR FORCE
ALICE keeps our economy running but still can’t afford the basics. In 2023, 13 of the 20 most common jobs in Florida paid less than $20/hour – which is less than $40,000 a year if full-time. So, it’s no surprise that 36% of workers in these 20 jobs couldn’t make ends meet. Click here to learn more about how workers below the ALICE Threshold in our state serve as the reservoir for the labor force but face more economic risk and fewer job protections.
Indicators of Well-Being
What are the ancillary factors that impact the challenges facing ALICE families. This new tool can help you track the relationships between ALICE households and other variables across Florida and at the county level. From Internet Access to Adults 65+ Living Alone to Disconnected Youth and Teen Birth Rate, click here to learn about 50 different indicators shaping how your neighbors deal with living below the ALICE threshold.
New ALICE Report: Survival Budget Surges Past $100K
Learn more about why United Way Suncoast believes it’s important to continue raising awareness about the challenges facing ALICE families.
WHO IS ALICE?
- Of Florida’s 8,944,469 households, 13% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- 34% were ALICE in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
- Together, 47% of households in Florida were below the ALICE threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
FREEDOM TO RISE PODCAST
When we delve into the topic of affordable and workforce housing in this state, issues pop up like dollar weed on a Florida lawn. What can be done to address an issue that weighs on our economy and weakens our labor force? On this episode of the Freedom To Rise podcast, we talk to Kody Glazer, the Florida Housing Coalition’s Chief Legal and Policy Director, about this pressing state issue.
NEW TO THE ALICE PAGE
Check Out The New Elements We Added To The Page
ALICE Economic Viability Dashboard
Created by United For ALICE, the new ALICE Economic Viability Dashboard reveals the impact of economic and community conditions on people living in households below the ALICE Threshold. These households are either in poverty or are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) — earning above the poverty level but less than the cost of basics. With more than 30 new ALICE variables on work, housing, and community supports, this Dashboard provides a way to explore needs and pair them with promising practices — empowering us to develop targeted solutions for households in hardship.
Community Conditions Tracker
This interactive map that allows users to examine the conditions in specific zip codes including:
- Percentage of households living below the ALICE threshold
- Avg. Rent Cost
- Median Household Income
- Avg. Household Income
In the Media
2025
Soaring Suncoast family living costs | Suncoast View – ABC7 WWSB
Over $100K is what a FL family of 4 needs to survive, according to the ALICE report – ABC Action News
Nearly half of Pinellas, Hillsborough households can’t afford basic expenses – AXIOS Tampa Bay
Nearly half of Suncoast families can’t afford the basics, new report finds – Bradenton Harold
FL Residents Above Poverty Level Can’t Afford Basic Necessities, Report Says – Patch.com
New Report Reveals Level of Financial Hardship Across Our Region – 970WFLA, Ryan Gorman Show, Podcast
New Report: It’s getting hard to ‘make ends meet’ in Pinellas – St. Pete Catalyst
Nearly half of Suncoast families can’t afford the basics, new report finds – Suncoast Searchlight
More families can’t afford to live in the Tampa Bay area, a report shows – WUSF-FM
United Way Suncoast – Advocacy In Action – WFLA/Daytime
Cost of living tops $100,000 for many Pinellas and Sarasota families, new report shows – WMNF-FM
Many Tampa Bay families need over $100K annually as cost of living soars, new report reveals – Tampa Bay Business Journal
Cost of living tops $100K for many families in Tampa Bay: report – WFLA-TV
United Way: Survival budget for family of four now over 100k in Sarasota County – Herald-Tribune
2024
Report: A Third of Sarasota-Manatee working families can’t make ends meet – Herald-Tribune
Pinellas County Families with young children need to earn nearly $100,000 to afford basic expenses – WUSF NPR
2023
Florida’s complicated cost of living explained in four charts – Tampa Bay Times
Child Poverty is on the rise in the US. Here is what that looks like in Tampa Bay. – Tampa Bay Times
At DeSoto County resource center, residents can count on more than food – Herald-Tribune
Many Floridians struggle to pay for necessities, especially as pandemic relief ends, experts say – wusf Public Media
People in Bradenton living paycheck to paycheck and at risk of homelessness is up 16% – Bradenton Herald
United Way Suncoast offers support for struggling families – 10 Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay’s cost of living crisis grows more severe – Tampa Bay Business Journal
More Florida and Tampa Bay families are living paycheck to paycheck – wusf Public Media
Tampa Bay families must make at least $88K a year to live comfortably: report – News Channel 8
A rising number of working Florida families are unable to afford basic necessities – wusf Public Media
Almost half of households in Sarasota-Manatee region live paycheck-to-paycheck – Herald-Tribune
More Tampa Bay families are living on the brink of poverty – Tampa Bay Times
We Are ALICE: A Community Crisis Forum
46% of all homes in our 5-county footprint are ALICE or under the federal poverty line.
Who is ALICE?
Florida: 8.8 million households
(21.2 million people),13% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
33% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
- Together, 46% of households in Florida were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
Who is ALICE?
Florida: 8.8 million households
(21.2 million people),13% earned below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
33% were ALICE, in households that earned above the FPL but not enough to afford the basics in the communities where they live
- Together, 46% of households in Florida were below the ALICE Threshold (poverty + ALICE divided by total households)
What We Do To Help ALICE Families
UWS Investment Partnership Results
- Workforce Development Programs – almost every measure is at or above the yearly goal in the 3rd quarter
- Supporting community partners to increase job attainment and income through:
- +1,400 people placed in jobs or given a promotion/raise – nearly double the goal
- +500 people in progress earning certificates or higher education degrees
- Assisted almost 4,000 people in applying for benefits applications to provide additional support to themselves and their families
- +500 middle school students exposed to post-secondary education or career options that align with their interests
UWS Community Collaborations
- New summer youth workforce program in partnership with Career Source
- Increase in Resource Center partner collaboration through topic-focused workgroups
- Building on a successful winter holiday meal distribution event, our team expanded this partnership to include an Easter meal distribution
- Connection of Preserve Vision with our Quality Childcare Initiative sites, which led to 86 children being vision screened and 14 referred to receive glasses
- Convening food providers with summer educational programming to ensure students have nutritious food available during the summer
- Connecting early learning centers to paid trainings through the Early Learning Coalitions
- Creation of interactive learning trails at four parks in Pinellas County
- Increasing literacy through arts by collaborating with the Van Wezel Summer Resident Program to support over 150 children
Give Today!
The 2023 ALICE Report revealed that a family of four with an infant and a preschooler needs $88,000 to live comfortably. Don’t let the word “comfortably” deceive you. Comfortably means being able to go to the doctor without feeling anxious about the cost. Comfortably means being able to contribute towards your retirement and buy groceries. It’s not luxury, it’s stability. At United Way Suncoast we partner with families and work together to help them reach that stability, but we can’t do it alone. Give today and help United Way Suncoast create a community that will give every family the freedom to rise.
