Who is ALICE and Why It Matters for Our Community

There’s a common assumption that if someone has a job, they must be doing okay.

But for millions of households across the country — and many right here in Berrien County — that simply isn’t true.

Meet ALICE.

ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. These are individuals and families who are working, often full-time or more than one job, yet still don’t earn enough to cover the basic cost of living in their community. They pay their bills as best they can, but they have little to no financial cushion when life inevitably throws a curveball.

ALICE households live in a constant state of vulnerability — not because of poor choices or lack of effort, but because wages haven’t kept pace with the real cost of essentials like housing, childcare, food, healthcare, and transportation.

What ALICE Life Looks Like

Think of ALICE like a carefully stacked tower of blocks.

Everything is balanced — barely.

Then one block gets pulled out.

A car repair.

A medical bill.

Reduced work hours.

A missed paycheck.

Suddenly the whole tower starts to wobble.

For ALICE households, a single unexpected expense can trigger a chain reaction: missed rent, mounting debt, food insecurity, or even eviction. This isn’t about extravagance. It’s about survival with no margin for error.

ALICE in Berrien County

ALICE is not a distant concept or a national statistic disconnected from our daily lives.

In Berrien County, roughly 42% of households struggle to make ends meet, including those who fall into the ALICE category. These are our neighbors — the people serving our meals, caring for our loved ones, cleaning our buildings, stocking shelves, and keeping our community running.

Many earn too much to qualify for public assistance, yet not enough to build savings or withstand a financial shock. They’re working — but still living on the edge.

Why This Matters

Understanding ALICE changes the way we talk about poverty and stability.

It reminds us that the line between “doing okay” and “in crisis” is thinner than we think. That stability isn’t just about income — it’s about access, systems, and support. And that prevention matters just as much as response.

If we only show up after the tower falls, we’re always reacting. But if we strengthen the base — reliable food access, dependable transportation, dignified community spaces, and practical support — we help keep families upright before a crisis ever begins.

How New Heights Comes Alongside ALICE Households

At New Heights CCDA, much of our work exists because of ALICE — even if we don’t always use the term.

• Transportation support helps people keep jobs and maintain independence.

• The Community Food Network provides consistent, dignified access to nutritious food — not just for emergencies, but for long-term stability.

• The Laundry Hub offers more than clean clothes; it’s a welcoming community space where relationships form, barriers are lowered, and dignity is restored.

These aren’t isolated services. Together, they address the real pressures ALICE households face — not by fixing one moment, but by strengthening daily life.

Where Hope Takes Root

ALICE reminds us that many families are not failing — they are persevering in a system that leaves little room for rest or recovery. But scarcity does not have to be the final word.

At New Heights CCDA, we believe transformation happens through partnership. We walk alongside ALICE households as neighbors, not as projects — offering practical support, consistent presence, and pathways toward stability. Through transportation assistance, food security, and community-centered spaces like the Laundry Hub, we help reduce the pressures that keep families stuck in survival mode.

Our hope is simple and bold: to help people move from scarcity to stability, and from stability to success, while empowering each with the love of Jesus — a love that restores dignity, nurtures resilience, and reminds every person they are seen, valued, and not alone.

Together, we believe a stronger, more stable future is possible — one family, one relationship, one step at a time.