Who is ALICE?

ALICE is a United Way-coined acronym that stands for – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

ALICE represents working individuals and families that earn an income above the Federal Poverty Level but still cannot afford their basics due to high costs of living. At United Way, we advocate for and support people living below the ALICE Threshold who are experiencing working or extreme poverty and struggling to make ends meet. 

The Connecticut United Ways ALICE Report, a study of financial hardship, is published annually to reflect the true number of people walking a financial tightrope in our state. Relying on a wide range of publicly ̶ available sources, the ALICE Report calculates the cost of household basics for each county in Connecticut. This data provides a better sense of how many individuals and families are living below the ALICE Threshold.

The 2025 Connecticut United Ways ALICE Report revealed that 40% of households in our state have income which falls below what is needed to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, child care, health care, technology and transportation. Households living below the ALICE Threshold can be found in every town of our state, and are forced to make impossible choices — like deciding whether to pay for utilities or a car repair, or whether to buy food or fill a prescription.

We raise awareness about people living in extreme or working poverty and the need to close the gaps that prevent individuals and families from achieving financial security. We also invest in initiatives that help stabilize people living below the ALICE Threshold. This includes child care and early-learning, financial security and housing.