Balance
0
Payday
$
This ALICE simulation is a supplemental and separate tool from the ALICE report and is produced and operated independently from the ALICE report which is produced by United For ALICE as part of the United Way of Northern New Jersey.
If you are looking for the ALICE report for Iowa, please visit the following link for the full Iowa report from our partners at United For ALICE
Iowa ALICE Report
Making Tough Choices
You are about to put yourself in the shoes of a typical ALICE® family. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are those that have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. In other words, they are struggling to make ends meet. More than one in four Iowa families are ALICE; combined with those in poverty, more than one in three Iowa households is experiencing financial hardship.
For the next few minutes, you’ll experience some of the tough choices that these families have to make every single day and how United Way is doing all that we can to help them along the way.
Making Tough Choices
Choose your job
Office Clerk
$18.29/hour, Part-time, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
4 days a week
Personal Care Aid
$14.92/hour, Full-time evenings, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.,
5 days a week
Retail Salesperson
$13.85/hour, 2nd shift, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.,
5 days a week
Of the 20 most common occupations in Iowa, 70% paid less than $20 per hour. Of the workers in these 20 most common jobs, 27% were living below the ALICE Threshold.
Workers who hold second-shift jobs are often faced with difficulty finding child care and transportation.
Workers who hold second-shift jobs are often faced with difficulty finding child care and transportation.
Decide where you're going to live
Apartment Rental 1
2-bedroom unit in a large complex - Utilities included.
Apartment Rental 2
2-bedroom unit in an old house - Utilities included.
Single-Family Homeowner
Small house with 3 bedrooms
ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as healthy food and health care.
ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as healthy food and health care.
ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as healthy food and health care.
Choose your child care
Accredited Center-Based Child care
Your children are cared for in a high-quality center with social development and a structured early learning curriculum.
Family, Friends and Neighbors
Your children are watched in your home or theirs, requiring you to cover basic expenses.
Licensed Home-Based Child care
Your children are cared for by a licensed individual with other children.
Licensed child care centers are regulated to meet more detailed standards of quality care than home-based care, and they are significantly more expensive.
More than 75% of children under six years old live in families where all available caregivers are working, making access to quality, affordable child care essential.
Child care accounts for nearly 17% of the Household Survival Budget and is often the second most expensive item in the ALICE family budget, after the cost of housing. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold.
Choose your transportation
Bus
You and your partner each have a monthly bus pass.
Car
You and your partner have one car that is paid for. You have to pay for insurance and gas every month.
There is limited public transportation in Iowa making it essential for most households to have a car. With reliable transportation, ALICE households have improved access to better job opportunities, quality child care, and health care.
Public transportation is not available in most parts of Iowa, which makes owning or leasing a vehicle a necessity for many. A car is the most common asset in the state, but many lower-incomefamilies must buy lower-priced, used vehicles that are usually less fuel-efficient, tend to break down, and need more frequent repairs, which increases expenses. This, in turn, can lead to tardiness or absenteeism at work; missed medical, dental, or social service appointments; limited child care and school options; and limited access to healthy food.
Choose your household food
Fresh
All of the freshest and healthiest options available to you including name brands
Low Cost
Limited amounts of healthy options with lots of frozen and processed foods and bargain brands
Mix
A combination of fresh and frozen options with a mix of name brands and bargain brands
In some areas of Iowa, over 50% of the residents report travelling over 6 miles to reach the nearest grocery store.
ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it. Over 500,000 Iowa residents live in USDA-designated food desert areas.
ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it. Over 500,000 Iowa residents live in USDA-designated food desert areas.
Did you make it through the month?
Challenge Over...
You just ran out of money for the month.
For ALICE families, each month can bring a set of new challenges. In Iowa, of the 20 most common occupations, 70 percent pay less than $20 per hour. Of the workers in these 20 most common jobs, 27% were living below the ALICE Threshold. Even in households with two wage earners, families struggle to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck. ALICE works hard and holds important jobs in our community yet struggles to afford basic necessities such as food, child care, and housing.
ALICE workers are essential to the fabric of our society. ALICE works in jobs that are integral to our communities, from child care educators and home health aides to mechanics – all workers we rely on every day. The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of ALICE households. When ALICE suffers and is forced to make difficult choices, we all face serious consequences.
United Way is a champion for ALICE families. We mobilize volunteers, community organizations and local leaders to find lasting solutions to challenges in our state. We are making progress for children and families every day.
Did you make it through the month?
You Made It!
You made it through the month, though you probably faced some tough choices along the way.
For ALICE families, each month can bring a set of new challenges. In Iowa, of the 20 most common occupations, 70 percent pay less than $20 per hour. Of the workers in these 20 most common jobs, 27% were living below the ALICE Threshold. Even in households with two wage earners, families struggle to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck. ALICE works hard and holds important jobs in our community yet struggles to afford basic necessities such as food, child care, and housing.
ALICE workers are essential to the fabric of our society. ALICE works in jobs that are integral to our communities, from child care educators and home health aides to mechanics – all workers we rely on every day. The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of ALICE households. When ALICE suffers and is forced to make difficult choices, we all face serious consequences.
United Way is a champion for ALICE families. We mobilize volunteers, community organizations and local leaders to find lasting solutions to challenges in our state. We are making progress for children and families every day.