Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed
ALICE represents hardworking individuals and families in Lea County who earn above the Federal Poverty Level but still struggle to afford basic necessities such as housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare. These households often live paycheck to paycheck, facing difficult financial choices despite being employed.
Understanding ALICE in Lea County
In Lea County, ALICE households include individuals and families who:
- Are employed but earn wages that do not cover the basic cost of living
- Spend the majority of their income on housing and utilities
- Struggle to afford reliable transportation, childcare, or healthcare
- Are one emergency expense away from financial crisis
- Do not qualify for many assistance programs but still cannot achieve financial stability
ALICE families are essential workers, caregivers, service industry employees, and community members who contribute daily to the strength of Lea County.
Financial Stability
These challenges often impact:
- Working families with children
- Seniors on fixed incomes
- Single-parent households
- Individuals balancing multiple part-time jobs
- Households facing rising housing and living costs
While ALICE families may not be officially classified as living in poverty, they experience ongoing financial strain that affects their long-term stability and overall well-being.
Lea County Issues
Most of the students in Lea County experiencing homelessness are living “doubled-up”. That means they have moved in with other families. Currently, there aren’t any homeless shelters in Lea County. Some students experiencing homelessness may be served by organizations in other cities, but students prefer to stay in their hometown and sleep on couches of friends, neighbors or family members.
With the help of from United Way of Lea County and in partnership with the Hobbs Municipal Schools, identification of students experiencing homelessness within our communities has increased and more children experiencing homelessness are getting the supports they need to succeed in school. This utilization of funding also supports long term sustaining of the program and assurance that training and this service to students continues.
Lea County Realities
In Lea County, many ALICE households are employed in industries that experience wage fluctuation and economic shifts. Rising housing costs and limited access to affordable services place
additional pressure on working families.
Through the support of United Way of Lea County and partnerships with local agencies, programs are designed to:
- Provide access to essential services
- Support financial education and workforce development
- Strengthen pathways to long-term financial security
- Connect families with community resources
United Way’s Community Impact initiatives focus on helping ALICE families move from financial survival to financial stability, ensuring that all Lea County residents have the opportunity to thrive.