For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Did you know… many adults working in our community are not making enough to thrive? In fact they barely get by and are one emergency away from serious financial hardship.

That is why United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties has partnered with United Way of Wisconsin and other United Ways across the state to provide the 2018 ALICE Report.  ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed.  It is a way of defining our families, neighbors and colleagues – men and women – who work hard, earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford basic household necessities.

According to the 2018 ALICE Report, in Wisconsin, 37.5 percent of households are identified as ALICE or below, meaning they are not earning enough to cover the basic costs of living which include: housing, childcare, healthcare, transportation, and food. In Wood County, 34 percent of the population was identified as at or below ALICE household; in Adams County it was 54 percent.

It’s important to understand our ALICE population because ALICE workers are our “maintainers” who care for the workforce and build and maintain infrastructure.  They are our retail employees, food preparation employees, personal care aides, cashiers, waiters/waitresses, and maintenance and repair workers, to name a few.

During the presentation “Understanding Underemployment,” you will learn more about what ALICE looks like here in our community. Upcoming Wood County presentations include: Oct. 10, McMillan Library, 1-2:30 p.m. and Oct. 18, McMillan Library, 2-3:30 p.m. An Adams County presentation will also be held on Oct. 23, Adams-Friendship Schools Admin Building, 10- 11:30 a.m.

If interested in attending, please RSVP to United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties Community Impact Director Emily Stieve at 715-421-0390 or emily@uwswac.org.

To download the 2018 ALICE Report, please visit www.uwswac.org/alice.